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THE UNIVERSITY OF 
 
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irCHOOLDAXS 
 
 mtWlS J. BBKIT, T.imitctI, JIAJtK.lWAl UOlSIi, <i, WEST JlAJtJ>iy<i STSJiJ:.!, LOyVOy, i'.t. 
 And all JBookstllers, 
 
fie H-y-- 
 
 i1N- 
 
 JACK AT ETON; 
 
 or, 
 
 The Adventures of Two College Chums. 
 
 Bi? a popular autbor. 
 
 BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 COMPLETE. 
 
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2^* 
 
 The Schooldays of Jack at Eton 
 
 1 
 
 No. 1. 
 
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 [FXTBLISKED EVBBT MONDAT.] 
 
 Witli this Number is Fresented gratis a Splendid Coloured Picture. 
 
"JHE SCHOOLDAYS_OF J ACK AT |7 T0N 
 
 Zl)c abvcnturc£5 of (Two CoIIcqc Gbums, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE CHUMS MEET. 
 
 "' The First and Second Forms, and the 
 Lower School, will return to Eton on 
 the 14th of April. The Fourth Form 
 and Removes and the Upper School on 
 the 15th. The Sixth Form on the 
 16th." 
 
 Such was the announcement in the 
 
 1 newspapers, and as may be imagined, quite 
 a number of boys assembled at the 
 Great Western station in London on the 
 fourteenth. 
 • The station in the afternoon was 
 
 ' crowded by Etonians, who were anxious 
 
 I to catch the half-past three train from 
 Paddingtou, and get down before dark 
 to college. 
 ; This is not to be wondered at, when 
 
 \ it is considered that Eton contains 
 I nearly a thousand boys, has nearly 20 
 ' masters, including classical and mathe- 
 1 matical masters, the boys living in 
 ; different houses, dotted about the college 
 precincts, and going at certain hours to 
 the school buildings, which are in a 
 central position on the Slough Road. 
 
 Among the boys who were looking 
 after their luggage on the platform 
 was one who appeared to take a great 
 interest in a canary bird in a gilded 
 cage. 
 
 He was tall, fair, and not bad-looking, 
 about fourteen years of age, but too slim 
 to be very strong. 
 
 " Put that bird in the carriage with 
 me, porter," said he, pointing to a first- 
 class in which he had placed some books 
 and papers. 
 
 " Yes, sir. One moment, sir," replied 
 the poi-ter, who was busily engaged in 
 waiting on another young gentleman. 
 
 He was expecting a tip, for he knew 
 that Eton boys are always generous in 
 return for any little attention paid them. 
 
 The boy tiimed his back for awhile, and 
 a stout, thick-set, dark-complexioned 
 young fellow stumbled up against the 
 cage, upsetting it. 
 
 " Halloa ! ! " cried the owner of the 
 bird, who heard it fall, and instantly 
 turned round ; " what did you do that 
 for?" 
 
 " Because I couldn't help it," was the 
 reply. 
 
 " I believe you did it on purpose." 
 
 "You have a perfect right to your 
 own opinion," said the other boy, who 
 spoke with a strong foreign accent. 
 
 He had not the look of an English- 
 man, but seemed to spring from a 
 different race. 
 
 Rings sparkled on his fingers, a 
 diamond pin flashed in his scarf, he wore 
 a heavy gold watch chain with two 
 lockets, and was evidently well off. 
 
 "Pick it up again," cried the boy 
 with the bird. 
 
 " I'll see you hanged first, and then t 
 won't," was the reply. 
 
 "Who are you?" 
 
 "INIy name's Timor. I've no reason 
 to be ashamed of it. If you want me, 
 I'm an Eton boy, and you'll hear of me 
 in the college." 
 
 " My name's Owen Tudor," exclaimed 
 the otlaer, who was red with rage. " I'm 
 a Welshman, and in my country we 
 don't stand any nonsense." 
 
 " I'm a Russian. My father's attached 
 to the embassy here," said Timor, " anil 
 if I had you in Russia, I'd have you 
 knouted till you learnt how to keep a 
 civil tongue in yoirr head." 
 
 " Well, I must say you look like the 
 villain of old, Timon the Tartar," 
 laughed Owen Tudor. 
 
 "Yes, you will find me a Tartar £f 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 you provoke me, so I advise you to be 
 more civil to me in future." 
 
 "Pick up my birdcage," cried the 
 Welsh boy. 
 
 "I shan't, and that's as flat as the 
 valley of the Volga." 
 
 Owen Tudor did not want to make a 
 scene at the railway station. 
 
 But, at the same time, he did not 
 care about putting up with the young 
 Russian's insolence. 
 
 He advanced to him with a threaten- 
 ing gesture. 
 
 " Oh ! " exclaimed Timor, " your bird 
 seems to be a great worry to you. I 
 think I will relieve you from it." 
 
 " WTiat do you mean ? " 
 
 " Simply this." 
 
 The e\'il-looking Timor gave the cage 
 a kick with his foot, which opened the 
 door, and the bird being liberated from 
 its confinement, flew up to the roof of 
 the station, where it perched on a rafter 
 among some very smutty spanows, who 
 all began to chirp at his intrusion, some 
 of the more indignant pecking at him. 
 
 This was more than Owen Tudor 
 could stand. 
 
 " Confound you, take that ! " he said, 
 aiming a blow at him. 
 
 Timor warded it ofif with a cane he 
 carried in his hand, and the whistle 
 blowing for the train to start, he jumped 
 into a carriage, the guard locking the 
 door. 
 
 He gave the guard half-a-sovereign 
 in an ostentatious manner. 
 
 " Keep this carriage for me," he said ; 
 " I want it to myself. I hate travelling 
 with a lot of cads." 
 
 Owen Tudor was furious. 
 
 Shaking his list at the aristocratic 
 young Russian, who was laughing impu- 
 dently at him, he exclaimed — 
 
 " Come out of that and fight me like 
 a man." 
 
 " I can't," replied Timor. 
 
 " AMiy not ? " 
 
 " For two reasons." 
 
 " AVhat are they ? " 
 
 " In the first place, I don't want to 
 kill you at present ; secondly, I'm locked 
 in." 
 
 The guard touched Owen Tudor on 
 the shoulder. 
 
 " Now, sir, if you're going on," he said. 
 
 He held open the door of a carriage, 
 and as the train was ahready beginning 
 
 to move, Owen bestowed one malignant 
 glance at Timor and another sad ooa at 
 the emjjty cage. 
 
 Then he stepped in, the door was 
 shut, and the traiu rolled out of the 
 station. 
 
 He found himself in the company of 
 two boys, one of whom sat opposite him, 
 and was stout, well-built, healthy, and 
 apparently good-tempered, with a pro- 
 fusion of curly hair, clear blue eyes, and 
 a well-cut mouth. 
 
 The other was small, rather under- 
 sized, decidedly ugly, with a comical 
 expression of countenance, and a sort of 
 perpetual grin on his face. 
 
 " I say," exclaimed the one opposite 
 Owen, " excuse me for talking to you, 
 but that was a beastly shame of that 
 big fellow. I saw him kick the cage 
 over, and if it had come to a row I'd 
 have helped you." 
 
 " Would you ? " 
 
 " Yes, I would, for he is too much for 
 one of your age. You said your name 
 was Tudor, didn't you ? JNline is Jack 
 Dashley." 
 
 " Thanks for your sympathy," replied 
 Owen. "I think I could have got at 
 the great big bnite if the train hadn't 
 started so soon." 
 
 " He's a regular Russian Bear, and 
 looks as strong," said Jack Dashley. 
 
 "Russian iJear, yes, that's the only 
 name for him," answered Owen. " I 
 liked that bird. It was a parting pre- 
 sent from my mother." 
 
 " Are you a new fellow ? " asked Jack 
 Dashley. 
 
 " Yes. Are you ? " 
 
 " I am. My people wanted to see me 
 ofif, but I chose to come alone. We 
 have been down to Eton, and I know 
 where I am going, so I didn't want any 
 kissing and hand-shaking at the station; 
 it is bad form." 
 
 " Just my case," said Owen. " Havp 
 you ever been to school before ? " 
 
 "Oh, yes. I was three years at n 
 private school. This is my first shy at 
 a public one," answered Dashley. 
 
 " I had a private tutor at hom«. 
 \^^lose house are you going to at Eton ? " 
 
 " Mr. Dryasdust's," replied Jack Daeb,- 
 ley. "And you?" 
 
 " By Jove ! that is strange. He 13 t* 
 be my master too. I say, we ought *• 
 chum up, you and I." 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 " We will. I'm agreeable," said 
 Jack Dashley. " I like jour looks." 
 
 " So do I yours. Is it a bargain, old 
 fellow ? " cried Owen. 
 
 " It is, as far as I am concerned. We 
 will be chums all the time we are at 
 college, and make an alliance, offensive 
 and defensive against the Kussian Bear." 
 
 " Agreed." 
 
 They shook hands cordially, and the 
 compact was sealed. 
 
 The third boy in the carriage could 
 not help hearing what they were talking 
 about, and when they had finished he 
 spoke. 
 
 " Excuse me, you two new fellows, he 
 exclaimed. " I am an old boy in my 
 second half at Eton, and I can tell you 
 a great deal about the school." 
 
 "I suppose you can," replied Jack 
 Dashley. 
 
 " Let me introduce myself." 
 
 " I shall be very glad to know you." 
 
 Owen Tudor echoed this sentiment, 
 and with the true instinct of Eton boys, 
 they bowed to one another like little 
 men. 
 
 " My name's Jimmy Jingo," continued 
 the third boy, " and I board at Butler's. 
 That's the next house to yoms in Keat's 
 Lane." 
 
 " WTio's Keat?" asked Jack. 
 
 "He was head master once upon a 
 time. "NVhy he had a lane I don't know, 
 but that's what they call it. He was 
 the flogging head master, and would 
 birch a fellow for being two minutes' 
 late for school." 
 
 "That's pleasant," remarked Owen 
 Tudor. 
 
 " You wouldn't say so if you were in 
 for it." 
 
 "Are there a nice set of fellows at 
 our house ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "Not particularly. They bully a 
 good deal, and you'll find the fagging 
 rather hard." 
 
 " Do you know Timor ? " 
 
 " Don't I ? and I hate him. We had 
 a fight once, and he licked me in no 
 time. I'd like to see some one tackle 
 him. He's in your house, and you'll 
 have aU you want of him. They say 
 his father is awfully rich in Russia, and 
 his mot^ r is a lady of EngUsh rank ; 
 but hp' aore Russian than English." 
 
 " & should think." 
 
 " TLey tell funny tales about him at 
 
 your tutor's," continued Jimmy Jingo, 
 " I've heard that he keeps a cane in hia 
 room to thrash the small boys." 
 
 During the remainder of the journey 
 Jimmy Jingo gave them much valuable 
 information, which it is unnecessary to 
 repeat here, and by the time they 
 reached their destination they knew so 
 much about Eton that they fancied they 
 had been there six months. 
 
 Arriving at Windsor, Jack Dashley 
 and Owen Tudor took a cab, and were 
 driven across the river Thames into the 
 village of Eton. 
 
 Then they crossed the bridge over 
 Barn's Pool, and were in the sacred 
 precincts of the college. 
 
 Jack was the son of a fashionable 
 doctor in London, who was personally 
 known to jNIr. Dryasdust. 
 
 Owen sprang from an old Welsh 
 family, and his father and grandfather 
 had been educated at Eton. 
 
 Jlr. Dryasdust received the boys 
 kindly, and showed them to their rooms, 
 which were plainly furnished, each 
 having a table, a shut-up bedstead — let 
 down at night — three chairs, and a 
 carpet. 
 
 Everybody has his own room, in which 
 he takes his breakfast and tea. 
 
 He was allowed a pound of sugar and 
 a quarter-of-a-pound of tea every week. 
 
 A slice of bread and a pat of butter 
 was supplied at each meal. 
 
 Anything else he wanted he had to 
 buy. 
 
 Dinner and supper were served in the 
 dining room, when all sat down together. 
 
 There were two galleries in the house, 
 one above the other, each containing 
 about twenty rooms, so that there were 
 forty boys in the house when full. 
 
 An old woman waited upon the in- 
 mates of each gallery, and the name of 
 the one on Jack's floor was Susan. 
 
 Jack found that his room adjoined 
 that of Owen's. 
 
 A nice fire burned in the grate, and 
 Susan had laid the cloth as the boys 
 entered, while the small tea kettle 
 hissed merrily. 
 
 You two young gents seem to be 
 friends," she remarked ; " and I should 
 advise you to mess together." 
 
 " We met for the first time to-day," 
 replied Jack. " But we have arranged 
 to be chums all the time we are at 
 
toe; schooldays of jack at ETON; 
 
 college. \Miat do you mean by messing 
 together?" 
 
 " Taking your meals, sir ? " 
 
 " Oh, I see — a very good idea. WTiat 
 do you say, Owen ?" 
 
 Owen Tudor was quite pleased, and a 
 servant just then brought up a little 
 hamper of good things, with which Mrs. 
 Dashley had provided her son. 
 
 A couple of fowls, a ham, sundry pots 
 of jam, and a boiled tongue are rather 
 calculuted to quicken the appetites of 
 two hungry boys. 
 
 " You makes your own tea, sir," ex- 
 claimed Susan. "It's lock-up at sis 
 at this time of the year, supper at nine, 
 prayers at half-past, and caudles taken 
 away at ten. I'U call you in the morn- 
 ing at seven, in time for school." 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust had previously tested 
 the capacity of the boys, and had in- 
 formed them that they would be placed 
 in the fourth form, the lowest division 
 of the upper school. 
 
 Sitting down to tea, they felt quite 
 at home, and began to enjoy them- 
 selves. 
 
 " This isn't half bad," observed Jack, 
 with his mouth full of ham and fowl." 
 
 "None so dusty," replied Owen. "I've 
 fared worse." 
 
 While he spoke the door opened, and 
 a dark-haired boy, with a sneaking look, 
 entered. 
 
 "Who are you?" asked Jack, looking 
 up ; " and what do you want ?" 
 
 " I'm Funnybird Minor," was the 
 reply. 
 
 " Minor ! what does that mean ?" 
 
 "What a fool you are not to know 
 that. Minor means less, and major 
 great. I've got a big brother. He's 
 Funnybird IMajor, and I'm called Funny- 
 bird Jilinor, to distinguish us." 
 
 " You look like a funny bird. You're 
 all legs and wings, and you've got a 
 beak like a pelican," said Jack. 
 
 Funnybird Minor certainly had a very 
 big nose, curved somewhat like a beak, 
 hut he did not like this allusion to it. 
 
 -' Don't you chaff my nose," he said. 
 If my major heard you, there'd be a row, 
 and you'd be in it." 
 
 " Really ? " 
 
 " Yes, reaDy. You can sneer, but my 
 major always licks fellows who cheek 
 me. I did not come here to have a row, 
 though. You smelt so good from the 
 
 outside, that I thought I'd come and 
 see what you had got to e;it." 
 
 " Your nose guided you." 
 
 Let ni}' nose alone, I tell you, it don't 
 belong to 3'ou," cried Funnybird ilinor. 
 
 " I should be sorry if it did, but Vm 
 not touching it— wouldn't touch it with 
 a pair of tongs," replied Jack. 
 
 Funnybu-d eyed the tongue in a 
 hungry way. 
 
 " Grive us some of that. I did'ut 
 bring any grub back with me," he said. 
 
 " That's no reason why you should come 
 cadging from us," replied Owen Tudor. 
 
 " Won't you let me join you ? " 
 
 " No," said Jack and Owen in a breath. 
 
 " Then I'll tell my brother ; he'll soon 
 make you," threatened Funnybird Minor. 
 " i\Iy major likes me. He's second cock 
 of the house ; only Careless the captain 
 can lick him, and he messes with Timor. 
 What Timor and he can't do is'nt worth 
 doing." 
 
 " You little beast, get out," cried 
 Owen, " or, as I'm a Welshman, I'll put 
 you out." 
 
 " A Welshman," are you ? " 
 
 " Yes, I am, and there's nothing to 
 be ashamed of in that." 
 
 " Ba-a-a ! you, look like a Welsh goat ! 
 ba-a-a I " cried Funnybird Minor, retreat- 
 ing to the door. 
 
 Jack Dashley threw a piece of bread 
 at him, which he narrowly dodged by 
 ducking his head. 
 
 " Wait till I tell my major," he said. 
 " Ba-a-a ! " 
 
 Then he disappeared through the 
 door. 
 
 " lie's a cool fish," remarked Jack, 
 " I wonder if there are many more like 
 him in the house ? " 
 
 "Hang his impudence," said Owen, 
 whose face was flushed. " He ' ba-a-ed ' 
 at me like a goat, and I can't staud 
 that." 
 
 Jack was afraid there was trouble 
 brewing, because Funnybird Minor had 
 a vindictive, bad face, and if his brother 
 was as strong as he said, it was no use 
 resisting him, for a small boy cannot 
 fight one older and stronger than himself. 
 
 Then again, he was a friend of 
 Timor's. 
 
 They messed together, and it would 
 be absurd for either himself or Owen to 
 tackle the Kussian, who was too big for 
 them. 
 
OK, TEE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 That fellow Funnybird is a hot mem- 
 ber," remarked Jack, "and I'm a false 
 prophet if there is not going to be a 
 row." 
 
 "I think so too," answered Owen ; 
 " let's hide the grub." 
 
 " Good ! " I'll do it," said Jack. 
 
 He hm-riedly removed the things 
 from the table and put them on the top 
 of the shut-up bedstead, which was the 
 
 only hiding-place he could think of, and 
 that was not a very secure one, yet it 
 was better than none. 
 
 Scarcely had he succeeded in doing 
 so, and resumed his place at the table, 
 than the door opened. 
 
 A ttill, thick-set boy, who was Funny- 
 bii'd Major, and the evil-looking Timor 
 entered, while young Funnybird stood 
 behind them. 
 
 CHAPTEK 11. 
 
 THE FIKST NIGHT AT ETON. 
 
 " Weiat's your name, you new fellow ? " 
 cried Funnybii'd. 
 
 Jack told him, as did Owen on being 
 a?]ced a similar question. 
 
 " Now Dashley and Tudor," continued 
 Funnybird, "where's the grub you 
 wouldn't give my brother ? " 
 
 " Crone," replied Jack. 
 
 " I can see that ; but where is it 
 gone ? " 
 
 Jack pointed to the region of his 
 stomach, to convey the idea that he had 
 eaten it. 
 
 " Eaten it ? " 
 
 " Yes, haven't we come to Ea-ton ? " 
 
 " I'll teach you to tell lies and make 
 bad puns," said Funnybii'd ; " we don't 
 a.llow new boys to be too fresh." 
 
 He seized Jack by the arm, and twist- 
 ing it half round, hit him with his fist 
 on the muscular portion of it, causing 
 him considerable pain. 
 
 Timor produced a knotted rope from 
 his pocket, which he called his knout, 
 and began, with FunoybLrd's help, to 
 hit Owen on the back with it. 
 
 While this was going on Funnybird 
 Minor hunted about like a cat for the 
 good things which had been so carefully 
 stowed away. 
 
 " I've got 'em," he cried, hauling the 
 f(;wl and ham and tongue down from 
 the top of the bed. 
 
 " All right. Take them away. They 
 are confiscated," replied his brother. 
 
 Laughing merrily, Funnybird JNIinor 
 was about to obey the welcome order, 
 when a handsome fafr young man about 
 seventeen appeared on the threshold. 
 
 He had been attracted by the noise 
 made by Jack and Owen, for it may be 
 
 readily supposed that they did not 
 maintain silence while they were being 
 licked by two stronger and older boys 
 than themselves, helped too by a third. 
 
 " Funnj'bird and Timor ! " he ex- 
 claimed, " stop that. And you," — he 
 added to the other — " put those things 
 back on the table. You ought to be 
 ashamed of y-ourself to bag a fellow's 
 grub, and especially a new fellow." 
 
 Funnybfrd Minor looked abashed, and 
 did as he was told with an ill-grace, 
 while his brother and Timor released 
 thefr victims. 
 
 The newcomer was a fifth-form boy 
 named Sutherland. 
 
 He was a thorough gentleman in 
 every sense of the word. 
 
 An excellent scholar, he at the same 
 time was a good cricketer — had been 
 two years in the eleven, and excelled in 
 boating. 
 
 His moral influence in the house was 
 great, and because the boys knew that 
 he could support it by physical force if 
 he liked, they paid great respect to liim. • 
 
 " Can't you let a new fellow alone ? " 
 continued Sutherland. "The house is 
 getting quite a bad name for bullying, 
 and you two men are the principal cause 
 of it." 
 
 " They cheeked my minor and shied 
 bread at him," replied Funnybird, 
 sulkily. 
 
 " Just leave them alone and clear out 
 of here as soon as possible." 
 
 " I don't see what right you have to 
 order us about." 
 
 " If you don't do as I tell you I'll call 
 the captain of the house," said Suther- 
 land. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OK JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 It happened that Careless, the captain 
 ia question, came by at the time, and 
 hearing Sutherland's voice, entered the 
 room. 
 
 " I was looking for you ! " he ex- 
 claimed. "The sixth and fifth forma 
 are going to choose their fags for the 
 half. But what's the row ? " 
 
 " Oh, the old thing — Funnybird and 
 Timor bullying as usual," replied Suther- 
 land. 
 
 , Careless was a good-natured boy, and 
 he seldom interfered unless it was abso- 
 lutely necessary. 
 
 In the present instance he thought 
 that it was. 
 
 " You'll have to stop this, you fellows," 
 he cried. " Two boys left our house last 
 half and have gone to another because 
 they were bullied so. They would not 
 say who did it, but when my tutor spoke 
 to me to-day about it I could have told 
 him." 
 
 " Sneaks don't flourish at Eton," ans- 
 wered Funnybird. 
 
 "No," said Timor, "the atmosphere 
 does not seem to agree with them." 
 
 " I don't know that a sneak is any 
 worse than a bully," remarlced Careless. 
 "But this I do know, the house is 
 getting a bad name, and Mr. Dryasdust 
 has asked me as captain to stop it." 
 
 " Has he ? ^^'1hy doesn't he make 
 you a private detective at once ? I 
 expect your father was one," laughed 
 Funnybu-d Major. 
 
 This observation irritated Careless, 
 who extended his hand and gave the 
 speaker a box on the ear which sent him 
 spinning, and caused his brother to get 
 out of the door as quick as possible, 
 abandoning all ultei'ior designs on the 
 fowls and ham. 
 
 " What did you do that for ? " asked 
 Funnybird, clenching his fists. 
 
 " To teach you a lesson. Let these 
 two new fellows alone. The same remark 
 applies to you, Timor." 
 
 Funnybird and Timor walked out of 
 the room with deep passion in their 
 hearts, and Jack Dashley and Owen 
 Tudor felt much relieved. 
 
 " If those men bully you any more 
 come to me ; my room is at the end of 
 the passage ! " exclaimed Careless. " Fin 
 captain of this house, and by Jove ! I'll 
 take a little more trouble than I hnve 
 hitherto done to preserve order. Come 
 
 on, Sutherland, let us arrange about the 
 fags." 
 
 " Shall we have to fag ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Yes ; all boys not in the fifth form 
 have to." 
 
 " I'd like to fag for you then, if I can," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 " I can't promise you that," said Care- 
 less. " Because we put all the names 
 in a bag, and the masters who are en- 
 titled to have fags draw for them." 
 
 " Will Funnybird and Timor draw ? " 
 
 " Yes, they are entitled to one 
 each." 
 
 " It will be a nice look out if they 
 draw us. \\'hat shall we have to do ':* " 
 
 Careless smiled. 
 
 " Oil, nothing very bad," he replied. 
 " Sutherland and I have been through 
 it, and you see we are still alive. Don't 
 meet trouble half-way ; a good deal 
 depends upon the master you get." 
 
 So saying, the cai>tain of the house 
 and Sutherland went away to arrange 
 about the fags, and Jack and Owen sat 
 down to finish their tea. 
 
 " We got out of that pretty well," 
 remarked Owen, "though I feel sore 
 from that Russian knout yet." 
 
 "They will let us alone after what 
 Careless said, I should think," Jack 
 observed. 
 
 A peculiar noise came from the ad- 
 joining room. 
 
 It was like one goat calling to another 
 on the mountiiin top. 
 
 " Ba-a-a ! Ba-a-a ! " 
 
 " Hang it all ! " exclaimed Owen, 
 "that's Funn^-bird jNIinor. He's at it 
 again. I'll goat him." 
 
 He jumped up and ran angrily into 
 Funnybird 's room, where he beheld that 
 comic young gentleman leaning his 
 head against the wall, engaged in the 
 interesting occupation of "ba-ing," 
 while seated in the arm-chair with 
 which he had garnished his apartment 
 was a short stout boy with a fat face, 
 who was laughing till his sides ached. 
 
 This was Bill Bragg, a vulgar boy, 
 who told no end of stories, and was 
 always boasting of the "swells" he 
 knew and the wonderful things he did, 
 and the position of his friends at home. 
 
 The truth being that his father was a 
 drysalter in the Barbican, who had 
 married his cook, and ha\ang made a 
 little money sent his son to a public 
 
OR, THE ADV'ENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 school, choosing Eton as the most aris- 
 tocratic. 
 
 There was nothing in all this for Bill 
 Bragg to be ashamed of, but he always 
 wanted to make himself out better than 
 he really was, and this occasionally made 
 him ridiculous, for he could not help 
 being found out at times. 
 
 "IJa-a-a! m-a-a," went Funnybird 
 Minor. 
 
 " Go it — what a lark ! " exclaimed 
 Bill Bragg, adding— as he saw Owen 
 Tudor enter— "Oh, crikey! here's a 
 case of scissors. The goat's come." 
 
 Jack followed Owen, because he felt 
 bound to help him. 
 
 Without waiting to ask for any ex- 
 planation, Owen gave Funnybird a kick 
 which lifted him about thi-ee inches in 
 the air, and landed him on all fours on 
 the floor. 
 
 " Great Coesar," cried Funnybird, 
 " what's that ? " It seemed as if the 
 side of a house had fallen on me." 
 
 '• It's only me," answered Owen. " I'm 
 here if you want any more." 
 
 " I'm not a hog," replied Funnybird, 
 rubbing his leg ; " that will last me for 
 to-night." 
 
 " Don't you imitate goats," said Owen. 
 " If there are goats in Wales, they are 
 better than English curs like you." 
 
 "I'll tell my brother," said Funny- 
 bird. 
 
 " If you do, I'll go to the captain of 
 the house ; he promised to protect us," 
 exclaimed Jack Dashley. 
 
 " Us ? " repeated Funnybird. " \Miat 
 have you to do with it ? " 
 
 " We are chums. I've palled up with 
 Tudor, and any one who offends him 
 offends me. That's what's the matter." 
 
 Funnybird indulged in a sneer. 
 
 " I suppose you are some private 
 school lad," he replied. " They are 
 alwaj's fond of sneaking, but we'U 
 quickly knock that out of you." 
 
 " I have been to a private school," 
 answered Jack. "This is my first ap- 
 pearance at a public one, but I'm happy 
 to say that we had no such fellow as you. 
 If you talk about telling your brother, 
 is not that as bad as my telling Care- 
 less ? " 
 
 " All I know is, I'U have my rev.Mige," 
 growled Funnj'bird. 
 
 Seeing that he would not fight, and 
 that he had no further inclination to 
 
 ba-a, Owen was satisfied with the chas- 
 tisement he had inflicted. 
 
 Bill Bragg was a great talker, and he 
 could not resist the temptation to say 
 
 "That wasn't half a bad kick," he 
 remarked. " I like to see everything 
 slap-bang and all alive. The other day 
 I kicked a crossing-sweeper right across 
 the street for asking me for a penny." 
 
 " More shame for you," replied Jack. 
 
 " Oh, that's nothing. A week ago a 
 fellow came playing an organ outside 
 our house ; he would'nt go away, so I 
 gave him a sender which knocked him 
 slick into his organ, slap-bang, and no 
 mistake." 
 
 " ^^^lat did he do then ? " 
 
 " Crawled out again on the other 
 side, and the music went on the same 
 as ever, only a little out of tune." 
 
 Jack laughed, and was about to make 
 some answer, when Timor entered the 
 room. 
 
 " Where's Dashley," he asked. 
 
 " Here," replied Jack. 
 
 " You're my fag for this half," he 
 continued, " and if you don't come up 
 to time, I pity you, that's all." 
 
 Dashley felt as if some one had 
 stabbed him with a knife. 
 
 Of all the fifth-form boys at Eton, 
 Timor was the last he would have liked 
 to fag for. 
 
 " I mess with Funnybird Major," said 
 Timor ; " and you will have to come at 
 nine o'cloclc and get our breakfast ready. 
 If the kettle doesn't boil and you spoil 
 the tea in making it, I'm sorry for you, 
 WTiere's Tudor ? " 
 
 " I'm Tudor ! " answered Owen. 
 
 "Oh, yes. I remember you," ex- 
 claimed Timor; "you are the man 
 whose bird I gave freedom to. Well, 
 you are Funnybird Major's fag, so both 
 of you will have to wait on us." 
 
 Having made this announcement, the 
 Russian went away, satisfied that he 
 had caused the two boys as much dis- 
 comfort as was possible in about the 
 space of three minutes. 
 
 " My eyes ! " said Bill Bragg, " won't 
 you have a lively time of it ? I fagged 
 last half for Timor, and he's a beauty. 
 On the fifth of November he put a tor- 
 pedo on a chair, made me sit on it, 
 lighted it, and sent me flying up to the 
 ceiling, slap-bang, and all alive." 
 
10 
 
 Til£ SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 " Did it hurt you 'i " asked Jack. 
 
 " I couldn't wear a colhir for a week. 
 I stuck in the ceiling, and they had to 
 make a hole in the roof to get me out, 
 slap-bang, and all alive." 
 
 This was more than either Jack or 
 Owen could stand, aud they went back 
 to their owm rooms. 
 
 Jack lielped Owen to make his room 
 comfortable and put his things away, 
 and then Owen jierformed the same kind 
 offices for him, after which they sat by 
 the iire, talking until supper time. 
 
 They were very much annoyed at 
 the idea of having to fag for Timor and 
 Fuunybird, but as it was their luck to 
 be drawn by them there was no help for 
 it. 
 
 After supper and prayers, at which 
 they saw quite a small army of boys, 
 they went upstairs again. 
 
 Most of the fellows in their house had 
 returned on the first day, though some 
 of tlie fifth and sixth form claimed the 
 privilege of the e-xtra day accorded to 
 them. 
 
 Feeling tired, they were not sorry to 
 go to bed. 
 
 Susan came to take their candles. 
 
 Ov.'en was sitting on Jack's bed in his 
 nightshirt, aud ran into his room. 
 
 " I think you'd better look out, sir ! " 
 she exclaimifd. 
 
 " \^Taat for ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " A new boy generally has some tricks 
 played on him, and I heard Mr. Funny- 
 bird mention your name." 
 
 " I wish Funnybird would let me 
 aloHe ! " exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " He'll have to leave the house if he 
 goes on the way he's been a-going, sir," 
 replied Susan ; " and Mr. Timor's worse 
 than him. I'd lock my door, sir." 
 
 " There's no lock to it, Susan ; I 
 looked at it just now." 
 
 " Bless me ! that's a feet. Well, you 
 must get a bolt put on to-morrow ; most 
 gentlemen do. Good night, sir, aud I 
 hope as how you'll sleep well." 
 
 Jack thanked her, but he did not feel 
 at his ease. 
 
 And though he com-ted sleep, it did 
 not come. 
 
 He was thinking of Funnybird INIajor 
 and Timor, wondering wliat they would 
 do, and feeling in confusion about this 
 new world of Eton, on the waters of 
 which his frail bai-que had been launched. 
 
 While he half dozed he thought he 
 heard footsteps approaching his room. 
 
 He listened. 
 
 It was not a mistake. 
 
 Some one was in the corridor. 
 
 His door opened. 
 
 He scarcely dared to breathe. 
 
 He heard, or rather felt, that some 
 one was in the room. 
 
 What should he do ? 
 
 His first impulse was to jump out of 
 bed and ask what the intruder wanted, 
 but resisting this, he remained perfectly 
 still. 
 
 AH at once he felt his feet going up 
 in the air, and the blood rushed to his 
 head. 
 
 Jack could not make out what was 
 happening to liim, but in less than ten 
 seconds he was standing on Ms head, as 
 it were. 
 
 There was a sharp click as the button 
 was turned outside the bed, and he knew 
 that he was " shut up." 
 
 Of all the practical jokes .whicli an 
 Etonian has to undergo, being shut up 
 in a folding-bedstead is the worst. 
 
 Jack Dashley was unable to move. 
 
 Pie could not regain his erect position. 
 
 All he was able to aceompUsh was to 
 keep the clothes from his mouth with 
 his hands, and so get a little air. 
 
 He felt a sense of heaviness and ap- 
 proaching suffocation. 
 
 If this confinement lasted much longer 
 he would die, for he was sure he could 
 not bear it. 
 
 Oh, Heaven ! what would he not have 
 given for just one Httle breath of air ! 
 
 He struggled like a maniac ; his eyes 
 seemed to be bursting out of his head, 
 and he screamed hoarsely for help. 
 
 The bedclothes mufSed his voice, and 
 his piteous entreaties could not be heard. 
 
 " Help, help ! " he cried, in a stifled 
 voice. 
 
 But no help came. 
 
 He gave himself up for lost, and 
 thinking of his mother, he tried to 
 breathe a prayer, after which he grew 
 dizzy, seeing green fields and hearing 
 the notes of singing birds like a drown- 
 ing man. 
 
 Suddenly he felt the bed pulled down. 
 
 The blood rushed from his head and 
 began to circulate in his body once 
 more. 
 
 A flood of cold air refi-eshed him. 
 
OK, THE ADVENTDRES OF TWO COLLEGE GDOMS. 
 
 11 
 
 He saw a light, and standing by his 
 si.le was Sutaeiland. 
 
 " Are you better ? " asked the latter, 
 kindly. 
 
 Jack, after a time, gasped out — 
 
 " Yes, thank you." 
 
 " I suspected something of this kind," 
 continued Sutherland, "and that is what 
 made ine come to yom' room." 
 
 " You came just in time. I thought 
 I was dying," cried Jack, still lying help- 
 less on the bed. 
 
 " It is no joke to be shut up. I have 
 gone through it myself, though, thank 
 goodness, I was never cowardh' enough 
 to do it to anyone else. These infernal 
 bullies ought to be punished." 
 
 " \Mio did it, do you think ? " asked 
 Jack, sitting up at last, 
 
 " Oh, Timor and Funnybird. I saw 
 them in the passage, but they ran away 
 when they twigged me." 
 
 Jack got out of bed and shook him- 
 self. 
 
 "I'm all right now," he exclaimed. 
 " But, I say, have you been to look after 
 Tudor ? " 
 
 " Not yet." 
 
 " If they would attack me, you may 
 depend they would go for him too ; my 
 chiim, I mean. Perhaps he is as badly 
 off as I was." 
 
 " That is so," said Sutherland. " We 
 wiU see. Come with me." 
 
 They liastily made their way into the 
 next room, and with the aid of Suther- 
 land's candle, looked for Owen. 
 
 The bed was rumpled, and had evi- 
 dently been slept in, Ijut they could find 
 no trace of its owner. 
 
 " ^\Tiy, where on earth is he ? " said 
 Jack Dashley. 
 
 Sutherland looked around in a per- 
 plexed manner. 
 
 " They cannot have killed him, and 
 thrown him out of the window," con- 
 tinued Jack. 
 
 This remark gave Sutherland an idea, 
 
 for he went to the window, which was 
 open, and looked out. 
 
 " Here he is," he cried, i)eginning to 
 haul up something. 
 
 Jack hastened to his side, and saw the 
 two ends of a sheet tied to the bar which 
 ran across the centre of the window. 
 
 Owen Tudor had been placed in the 
 sheet, and lowered from the window, 
 being left to hang in mid-air until his 
 tormentors chose to release him. 
 
 If he had struggled in the least de- 
 gree, he would have dropped out, and 
 falling on the ground below, seriously 
 injured himself. 
 
 He was natm-ally very much alarmed, 
 and felt as much relieved as Jack did 
 when he was released. 
 
 " Are you hurt, Owen ? " asked Jack, 
 squeezing his hand. 
 
 "Not much," replied Tudor. "The 
 beasts seized me when I was half asleep, 
 and nearly strangled me, so that 1 
 shouldn't hoUoa. They then put me in 
 the sheet and slung me out of the win- 
 dow, telling me if I struggled I should 
 be killed." 
 
 " How long have you been there ? " 
 
 " Oh, a good five minutes, though it 
 seemed an age. I daren't move. If 
 this is coming to Eton, I wish I had 
 stayed at home." 
 
 " It doesn't always happen," said 
 Sutherland. " Those bullies are a dis- 
 grace to the house." 
 
 "And we have to fag for them," 
 groaned Owen. 
 
 "Never mind," replied Sutherland. 
 " You have a friend in me, and they are 
 afraid of Careless. If they perform on 
 you again, let us know. Now go to bed. 
 i don't think you will be troubled again 
 to-night." 
 
 He left them, and after condoling with 
 one another, they retired to rest a second 
 time, Sutherland being right in his con- 
 jecture, for they were not disturbed any 
 more that night. / 
 
 CHAPTER ni. 
 
 IN WINDSOR FOREST. 
 
 Punctually at seven Susan called the j loneliness which one always esperiences 
 boys, and turning out of bed, they i at waking up in a strange place. 
 dressed, feeling that strange sense of ' They soon found their way to the 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETO>' ; 
 
 echool-yard, where all the schoolrooms 
 were, by following the crowd of boys 
 hastening from the difierent houses, and 
 took their places in the Upper School 
 with the rest of their division. 
 
 As it was their first morning, and they 
 were not supplied with books yet, 
 they were not called upon to do any 
 work. 
 
 After school they went back to their 
 tutor's for prayers, and then proceeded 
 to Timor's room to do their fagging. 
 
 It was very handsomely furnished, 
 for he had the command of money, and 
 had not spared any expense. 
 
 The walls were covered with handsome 
 engranngs. 
 
 He had flowers in his window, and 
 being fond of music, had bought a 
 piano. 
 
 Jack went to the cupboard and took 
 out the tea, while Owen saw that the 
 kettle boiled, and Timor and Fminybird 
 talked together near the window. 
 
 " How many spoonfuls of tea shall I 
 put in ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Find out," replied Funnybird. " You 
 two mess together, and you ought to 
 know how much is required for two." 
 
 " Do you like it strong ? " 
 
 " Yes. Don't bother me." 
 
 Jack made the tea, placed the teapot 
 on the table, and was about to walk 
 away. 
 
 ""\^^lere are you off to? "asked Timor. 
 
 " To my own room. Don't you 
 suppose I want some breakfast ? " re- 
 plied Jack. 
 
 " Well, you won't have any yet. Take 
 this shilling and go do^vn to Webber's 
 for a shilling's worth of hot sausages." 
 
 "And you, Tudor," said Funnybird 
 ^lajor, " cut along to the baker and 
 bring a couple of hot college rolls." 
 
 He gave him some money, and the 
 fags departed to get their hats. 
 
 In the passage they met Bill Bragg. 
 
 " Were are you off to ? " he asked. 
 
 " Sausages," replied Jack in a melan- 
 choly tone of voice. 
 
 "Hot college rolls," answered Owen, 
 in an equally lachrymose manner, " and 
 I don't know where the bakery is." 
 
 " And I could not tell Webber's from 
 Kamschatka," said Jack. 
 
 " I fag for Careless," exclaimed Bragg. 
 I'm going for rolls, so one of you can 
 come \vith me. Webber's is down by 
 
 Barn's Pool. My master looked as if he 
 would like to have sausages this morn- 
 ing, but he didn't send me." 
 
 " ^^^ly didn't he ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Becjiuse he looked in my eye and 
 saw an expression there, slap-bang and 
 all aUve, that told him I wouldn't go. 
 If Careless said a word to me I didn't 
 like, I'd back out of the room and let 
 him do his own fagging." 
 
 Unfortunately for the boaster. Careless 
 had been into some one's room to borrow 
 a Grroek Lexicon, and he heard this 
 remark of his fag's. 
 
 " Oh, you would, eh ? " he exclaimed. 
 " We will see. When you have brought 
 me my hot rolls you shall go up to Lay- 
 ton's and fetch me a penny bun. Cut 
 along." 
 
 Bill Bragg looked very foolish, as well 
 he might, for Laj'ton's was a confec- 
 tioner's shop in Windsor, nearly opposite 
 the Curfew Tower of the Castle. 
 
 If he ran all the way there and back 
 it would take him half-an-hour to go, 
 and he would have no time to eat his 
 own breakfast. 
 
 He might have bought such a simple 
 thing as a bun anywhere, but he knew 
 that his master would look at the bag, 
 and if he did not see Layton's name on 
 it he would be sent back. 
 
 " Shall you go ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "Yes, I'll humour him this time. He 
 looks as if he wanted a bun, and he is 
 not a bad sort when you come to know 
 him. This is the second half I have 
 fagged for him." 
 
 " Indeed." 
 , "The fcict is I begin quite to like 
 him." 
 
 " So I should think." 
 
 " And I can't find it in my heart to 
 refuse him anj-thing," said Bragg. " Ta- 
 ta ! stroll on. I mustn't keep him wait- 
 ing, poor fellow." 
 
 He and Owen started off to the bakery, 
 and Jack went after the sausages, laugh- 
 ing at the ingenious way in which Bragg 
 got himself out of a dilemma. 
 
 ^\'^len fagging was over he and Owen 
 had their breakfast, and came to the 
 conclusion that though it was a nuisance, 
 there was not anything very diflicult 
 after all in the system. 
 
 At eleven they had to go into school 
 and translate some easy Latin, such as 
 Cajsar or Livy. 
 
OR, THE ADVEKTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 Then the time until dinner, from a 
 quarter to twelve to two, was their own. 
 Jack Dashley had heard so much 
 about Windsor Castle that he was very 
 anxious to visit and roam in the park or 
 forest. 
 
 He thought of the dungeons, vaults, 
 sliding panels in the old towers, and the 
 subterranean passages that must exist. 
 
 He called to mind the legend of 
 Heme the Hunter, and wondered 
 whether the weird huntsman and his 
 coal-black steed were ever seen now. 
 
 Owen readily agreed to walk up town 
 with him, and they only regretted that 
 they had no companion to show them 
 the way. 
 
 They were standing in the schoolyard 
 near the statue, gazing at the size of 
 the old chapel. 
 
 On the other side was Lower School 
 
 and Long Chamber, in which were to be 
 
 seen the collegians in their long gowns. 
 
 Suddenly Jack saw Bragg running 
 
 towards them. 
 
 " I say ! " he cried ; " your fools if you 
 stop here." 
 
 " Why are we ? " 
 
 " You see those fives courts alongside 
 the chapel ? Well, they will be filled 
 soon with fellows playing fives, and they 
 always look round for a lower boy to 
 fog for them. It means picking up 
 balls for a couple of hours, that's all. 
 Oh, I'm slap-bang, and all alive." 
 
 They all hastened to avoid a species 
 of fagging which was anything but agree- 
 able. 
 
 " Are you going to be a wet bob or a 
 dry bob ? " asked Bragg. " Every one 
 here has to be one or the other. Let 
 me explain : a wet bob means a boating 
 man ; a dry bob, a cricketer." 
 
 " I don't know yet," replied Jack ; 
 " though I think I prefer the water." 
 
 " Where are 3'ou going now ? " asked 
 Bragg, who was not backward at asking 
 questions. 
 
 "Up to see the Castle? Will you 
 come with us ? " 
 
 " Just to oblige you," answered Bragg; 
 " though I don't care much about it ; 
 you see, I go there so often. My people 
 are very intimate at court, and the 
 Queen in\'ites me up to play with the 
 princes until it becomes a bore." 
 " Then you know the Queen ? " 
 " Oh, yes, slap-bang and all alive. I 
 
 call her Vic, and I'm never anything 
 else than Billy." 
 
 Jack could not refrain from smiling 
 at the impudence of the fellow's stories, 
 in which he knew there was not a grain 
 of truth, but as he found him a little 
 amusing, he did not say anything. 
 
 They walked up the Eton High 
 Street and into Windsor, where the 
 castle burst upon them in all its beauty 
 and grandeur. 
 
 Ascending by the hundred steps at 
 the base of the Curfew Tower, they 
 reached the terrace, on which they 
 \<'alked, afterwards skirting the Round 
 Tower, from tlie top of which floated 
 the Royal Standard, which indicated 
 that Her ISIajesty was at home. 
 
 "Vic's in," said Bragg, carelessly. 
 " But I don't think I'll call on her to- 
 day. Let's get into the park. We may 
 see Heme the Hunter. 
 
 A thrill of superstitious fear ran 
 through the veins of Jack and Owen at 
 the mention of the name. 
 
 " Do you believe in him ? " Jack 
 asked. 
 
 " Why shouldn't I, when I saw him 
 one day on his coal-black horse, breath- 
 ing fire and smoke ? Slap-bang and alS 
 alive." 
 
 " What did you do — run ? " 
 
 " Not I," replied Bragg ; " I chucked 
 a stone and it went clean through him ; 
 nothing but a spirit, my boy." 
 
 They quitted the castle by the postern 
 at the top of the hill, and got into the 
 forest at the beginning of the Long 
 Walk. 
 
 The season being mild and forward, 
 the trees were just beginning to bud, 
 the grass looked fresh and green, the 
 sun shone brightly, the birds sang 
 blithely, and the merry brown hares sat 
 in the ferns, while the rooks cawed 
 overhead as they built their nests. 
 
 Cutting across an open glade, they 
 came to a lot of fern, in which some deei- 
 were grazing. 
 
 " Look out, young gentlemen," cried 
 a m,an, appearing from behind a tree. 
 
 He was dressed in a coat of Lincoln 
 green and corduroy trousers ; in his 
 hand he carried a gun, 
 
 " That's Gunstock the keeper," said 
 Bragg ; " I know him." 
 
 " It seems to me you know everybody," 
 answered Jack. 
 
14 
 
 THE SCnOOLDATS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 "Pretty nearly. 'VMiat's up, Gun- 
 stock ? Is Heme about, slap-bang and 
 all alive ? " he asked. 
 
 " Xot as I knows on ? " replied the 
 keeper. " But this is the time o' year 
 it is dangerous to come a-nigh the 
 stags." 
 
 "Ah, 80 it is. I'd forgotten that; 
 thank you." 
 
 " It is no joke to be hyked by a stag 
 royal, with ten tines," remarked Gun- 
 stock ; "and there's another thing I 
 want to warn you of." 
 
 « WTiat's that, old man ? " 
 
 " There's a band of Kussian gipsies in 
 the park. The Queen won't have them 
 put out, why I can't tell, but it's my 
 orders not to touch them unless they do 
 something." 
 
 " Wh}^ should we be afraid of them ? " 
 
 " Beamse there's strange tales of 
 robbery and murder going about." 
 
 "Murder?" echoed the boys in a 
 breath. 
 
 "Ay, murder," replied Gunstock, in 
 a mysterious way. 
 
 CHAPTER rv. 
 
 STRANGE SCENES. 
 
 The boys waited with breathless ex- j 
 peetation for the gamekeeper to continue I 
 his recital, for there was something weiid j 
 and exciting about those mysterious 
 llussian gipsies, who lived in security in 
 the heart of the old forest, and who 
 were said to plunder and even murder 
 P'eople. 
 
 " Yes, gentlemen," continued Gun- 
 stock, " I found the dead body of a man 
 yesterday in a heap of fern." 
 
 " What kind of a man ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " He seemed a decent kind of fellow, 
 r took the body to the Town Hall, and 
 some folks say he had escaped from a 
 lunatic asylum and committed suicide, 
 but it's my opinion that the gipsies 
 robbed and murdered him." 
 
 Tiie boys were deeply impressed. 
 
 " Therefore," added Gunstock, " I 
 advise you to keep away from them. 
 Mind, i may be wrong, still it looks 
 tishy. You ain't got 'ere a bit o' baccy 
 about you, sir ? " 
 
 This request was addressed to Jack 
 Dash ley. 
 
 " I don't use the weed, but here's a 
 shilling to get some. Your yam is 
 wortli that." Jack repHed. 
 
 "All I know is," said Bill Bragg, 
 " tliat a whole army of gipsies wouldn't 
 frighten me, and Russians are a set of 
 cov,-ards. I once fought four gipsies and 
 licked the lot." 
 
 " Why didn't you say five ? " remarked 
 Owen. 
 
 "Oh, I wouldn't tell a lie about a 
 gipsy," repUed Bragg, with perfect 
 
 grax-ity ; " and I know this. I am not 
 going to spoil my walk on account of 
 what Gunstock has said. If the Jtussiaus 
 oay an^-thing to me, I'll " 
 
 He paused, as if what he would do was 
 too terrible to mention. 
 
 " What will you do ? " inquired Jack. 
 
 " You'll see if you live long enough." 
 
 Suddenly the stags began to fi,i;ht, 
 and roused the attention of the boys by 
 the sharp rattling noise made by their 
 horns as they encountered each other. 
 
 " A mill ! " said Jack. 
 
 "They're always at it," remarked 
 Gunstock. " It's rather a pretty sight. 
 See, that stag royal has hurt the other, 
 and he cries ago." 
 
 It was so. 
 
 The largest of the two had lacerated 
 the flank of his antagonist, who retired 
 bleeding under a tree. 
 
 "Did you ever see them attack a 
 man ? " asked Jaclv. 
 
 " I fought with one for half-an-hour 
 myself," replied the gamekeeper. " For- 
 tunately I had my hunting-knife in my 
 sheath, and I killed it at last, but I was 
 cut about a good deal. They fight with 
 their fore-legs as well as their horns." 
 
 Scarcely was the brief battle, v.iiich 
 illustrated the ferocity of the stag, over, 
 than they were startled by a cry. 
 
 Looking in the dii'ection from whence 
 it came they saw a very pretty girl 
 about sixteen flying Defore a stag which 
 was pursuing her. 
 
 Her hair and eyes were dark, and were 
 set off by a red cloak, while the hue of 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CriDMS. 
 
 lo 
 
 her coTTiplexion indicated her Boliemian 
 origin. 
 
 " Help, help ! " she exclaimed, adding 
 some words in a foreign language which 
 they did not understand. 
 
 Utterly regardless of the friendly 
 warning which the keeper had given 
 them, Jack Dashley rushed forward to 
 the rescue. 
 
 He was an English boy, and could not 
 see beauty in distress without doing 
 something to relieve it. 
 
 The stag was gaining on the girl. 
 
 All at once she caught her foot in the 
 root of the tree nearest her, and fell 
 forward on her face with a despairing 
 wail. 
 
 It seemed as if she was doomed to die. 
 
 The keeper raised his gun to his 
 shoulder as if he would shoot the stag, 
 but he dropped it again. 
 
 Jack was directly in the line of sight, 
 and he could not fire without danger of 
 hitting him. 
 
 Just as the stag was lowering his 
 branching antlers to hyke the girl. Jack 
 reached the spot and seized his horns. 
 
 A terrible struggle now ensued, and 
 strong though Jack undoubtedly was, 
 the issue of the combat could not have 
 long been doubtful, for the deer fre- 
 quently raised him off his feet. 
 
 Owen Tudor was about to go to his 
 friend's assistance. 
 
 Seeing his intention, the keeper 
 cried — 
 
 " Stand back ! " 
 
 Eaising his gun again he took un- 
 erring aim. 
 
 The bullet sped on its way, and the 
 noble animal bit the dust. 
 
 The practised eye and cool hand of 
 Gunstock had done the work well, and 
 the peril was past. 
 
 It is tnie that one of the finest stags 
 in the Queen's broad domain of Windsor 
 had been sacrificed, but. the venison 
 larder would be the richer. 
 
 Jack assisted the girl to rise, and she 
 smiled her thanks. 
 
 " Are you hurt ? " he asked. 
 
 " Not at all ; only frightened," she 
 replied ; " and I thank you so much." 
 
 " Yom- thanks are due to Gunstock as 
 much as to me," said Jack. 
 
 She spoke with a slight foreign accent, 
 jolling her r"s in a pretty way, which 
 made her speech infinitely attractive. 
 
 The gamekeeper drew his hunting- 
 knife from the sheath, and with a 
 dexterous slashiug movement cut the 
 stag's throat. 
 
 " Soh ! " he exclaimed ; " it is a fine 
 beast." 
 
 Then he looked at the girl, and 
 frowned darkly. 
 
 " You are one of the Russian gipsies, 
 if I am not mistaken, eh ? " he de- 
 manded, roughly. 
 
 " Yes, sir. My name is EflSe, and I 
 am a gipsy," she replied. 
 
 " ^Vhat are you prowling about here 
 for ? " 
 
 " I quitted the camp and strolled 
 about to take a look at the beautifal 
 park, sir-." 
 
 " If I had my way I'd march you out 
 of it precious quick." 
 
 " We don't do any harm, sir, and I 
 will tell your fortune for nothing, if you 
 like," said Effie. 
 
 " Go along ! I don't believe in such 
 juggling. You are all impostors and 
 cheats. What do you know about the 
 future ? " 
 
 " IMore than you think, sir." 
 
 EfSe's dark eyes flashed with indig- 
 nant fire, which showed that she was 
 incensed at the insult he had levelled 
 at her tribe. 
 
 " Tell me something." 
 
 " You won't Kke to hear it ; but I 
 will tell you. Your hours are num- 
 bered." 
 
 " 'WTiat do you mean by that ? " 
 
 He turned pale in spite of his bluster- 
 ing manner. 
 
 "Simply that you have not long to 
 live. The hand of death is hovering 
 over you now. It is invisible to your 
 eyes, but it is given to the poor despised 
 gipsy to see these things." 
 
 There was an awful pause, no one 
 daring to S2)eak. 
 
 Rousing himself from the shock which 
 the prediction had given him, Gunstock 
 uttered an oath. 
 
 "It's a lie!" he thundered. "Get 
 you gone or, girl though you are, I'll 
 lay a smtch across your shoulders." 
 
 The girl turned away, after bestowing 
 a look of gratitude upon Jack Dashley, 
 and entering the glade, was speedily lost 
 to sight among the trees. 
 
 " Hang them all for rogues and vaga- 
 bonds ! " said the gamekeeper. 
 
16 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OK JACK AT ETO>. 
 
 "That was a cheerful prophecy she 
 made about you," remarked Jack. 
 
 "Pooh! All stuff and nonsense," 
 laughed Gunstock. 
 
 " I'd go home and make my will if I 
 were you." 
 
 "Bah! It was only malice to try 
 and frighten me. Will, indeed ; I've 
 nothing to leave, and only myself to 
 care for. She's off to the camp. Their 
 tents are over there, half-way between 
 here and the statue at the end of the 
 Long Walk, on the Datchet side of the 
 park. They hate me." 
 
 The boys wished him good day, leav- 
 ing him to skin, cut up, and quarter the 
 stag. _ 
 
 " Let's go and see the gipsies, ex- 
 claimed Jack. " I like that girl. She's 
 awfully pretty. Wouldn't it be nice to 
 have a kiss ? " 
 
 " She wouldn't give you one,'' replied 
 Owen. 
 
 •' I'll bet she"d kiss me," said Bill 
 Bragg. " All the time she was talk- 
 ing to Gunstock I saw her look at 
 me." 
 
 The other boys burst out laughing at 
 this. 
 
 " It's well to have a good opinion of 
 yourself," remarked Oweu Tudor. 
 
 " Oh, it's a way I've got," answered 
 Bragg. " I can't go to an evening 
 j)arty without all the girls wanting to 
 dance with me. So, as a rule, I don't 
 dance at all, because I hate to make the 
 little dears jealous." 
 
 It was impossible to take down Bill 
 Bragg's self-confidence, so they walked 
 on in silence. 
 
 They were full of youthful spirits and 
 health, enjoying hugely their walk in 
 the lovely park. 
 
 Ten minutes brought them in sight 
 of the gipsies' camp, which was pictur- 
 vsquely situated on the gently sloping 
 side of a small hill, backed by a dense 
 clump of trees. 
 
 It consisted of fifteen tents or there- 
 abouts, which housed about thirty of the 
 Zingari. 
 
 They had, in addition, three travell- 
 ing caravans, and as many ponies, the 
 latter grazing close by. 
 
 Approaching the camp, they attracted 
 the attention of a tall hirsute man of 
 herculean frame, and apparently pro- 
 digious strength. 
 
 No sooner did he see them than he 
 shouted — 
 
 "Go back! We allow no strangers 
 to spy around here." 
 
 " I've as much right here as you 
 have," responded Jack, and " I shan't go 
 back." 
 
 " Won't you ? " 
 
 "No, that I won't," Jack said reso- 
 lutely. " 
 
 " Then I'll see if I can't make you," 
 cried the gipsy, who cracked in the air 
 a heavy dog-whip he carried in his right 
 hand. 
 
 When Owen Tudor and Bill Bragg 
 saw the whip, they took to their heels 
 and ran away as fast as their legs could 
 carry them, for they had no relish for a 
 beating. 
 
 Not so Jack Dashley. 
 His blood was up, and he intended to 
 defy the gipsy. 
 
 Walking boldly up to him, he looked 
 the bearded Russian in the face without 
 flinching. 
 
 "I'm an English boy, you Russian 
 hound ! " he said. " I have done nothing 
 to you, and if you dare to touch me, 1 will 
 summon you for an assault, and have you 
 sent to prison, and your gang broken up." 
 " Ho, ho ! " laughed the gip^y- 
 " Here's a little bantam cock." 
 
 " And you are a big overgrown bully 
 — perhaps something worse." 
 
 The gipsy seized Jack by the collar, 
 and raised his whip as if about to strike. 
 Hearing the altercation, several mem- 
 bers of the tribe had collected to see 
 what was going on. 
 
 Amongst these was Effie, who no 
 sooner caught sight of Jack Dashley 
 than she ran forward with extended 
 arms, as the cruel hea\-y-looking whip 
 was about to descend upon the boy's 
 defenceless shoulders. 
 
 " Ivan ! " she exclaimed ; " stay your 
 hand ! Strike him not." 
 
 He scowled at her angrily, as if he 
 did not lilve to be interrupted, and 
 showed that he was a man of ungovern- 
 able passions, dangerous when aroused. 
 
 " What do you interfere for ? " he 
 asked fiercely. 
 
 " This is the boy who saved me from 
 the horns of the stag." 
 
 " Ha, is it so ? " said Ivan, releasing 
 Jack. "Then he is welcome to the 
 camp of the Zingari. Your hand." 
 
 There is a grand New Story commencing in the " Eoye of England,*' 
 
 No. 1632, published Feb. ISth. Get the number and see whether you 
 
 Wee it. 
 
No. 2. 
 
 Gratis tvitfi Ifo, 1. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEC 
 
 19 
 
 Jack was not a boy to bear malice, 
 and he held out his hand, which the 
 stalwart gipsy grasped with a grip that 
 made him wince, and brought the tears 
 to his eyes. 
 
 " Hold on ! you hurt a fellow," cried 
 Jack. " However, I suppose you mean 
 well." 
 
 " You are a friend of the tribe," 
 replied Ivan, " for you have saved the 
 life of our little sunbeam — the brightest 
 jewel we have. Give him to drink and 
 to eat, Effie. Let him break our bread 
 and taste our salt." 
 
 Saying this, the gipsy stalked away, 
 and throwing himself down in the ferus, 
 lighted a pipe, which he proceeded to 
 smoke with that listless apathy so 
 peculiar to the wandering children of 
 the moon. 
 
 The others resumed their occupations, 
 or dived into their tents, and Jack was 
 left alone with Effie. 
 
 " I am so glad I had an opportunity 
 of being of service to you," said Effie. 
 
 " I have no cause to regret it," replied 
 Jack, " for Ivan seems a terrible fellow, 
 and a hiding with that whip of his would 
 be no joke." 
 
 " He is very proud," replied Effie, 
 " and cannot bear Being contradicted. 
 In Eussia he has rich and titled connec- 
 tions. Even in this country there is one 
 great personage who protects him." 
 
 " Indeed ! " 
 
 " Yes. His brother is a great man, 
 and his father was a Tartar prince. But 
 you will taste our fare ? " 
 
 "No, thank you. I must hurry 
 home." 
 
 "What are you, and what is your 
 name ? " 
 
 " Call me Jack. I am at Eton — the 
 big college over there. You can see the 
 spires in the distance across the river." 
 
 " Jack of Eton," said Effie, " you must 
 come and see me again. I will work 
 you something very pretty in beads and 
 velvet." 
 
 "Thank yon. I'd rather have one 
 kiss." 
 
 Effie blushed deeply. 
 
 " Take it," she replied. " You saved 
 my life at the risk of your own, and it 
 is your right." 
 
 Jack gallantly put his arm round her 
 waist and delicately kissed her cheek. 
 
 " Is Ivan your father ? " he asked. 
 
 " No. I never knew my mother and 
 father. I am the foundling of the tribe, 
 though I always think Ivan knows more 
 about my parentage than he will tell 
 me." 
 
 " You are the child of mystery." 
 
 " And you are Jack of Eton," she said, 
 smiling. 
 
 Jack looked at his watch, and found 
 that it was time to be thinking of 
 getting home. 
 
 " Good-bye, Effie dear," he exclaimed. 
 " I will come again soon." 
 
 "Mind you do. Jack of Eton," an- 
 swered Effie, simply. "There wiU be 
 one who will look for you." 
 
 They pressed one another's hands, and 
 bestowing an affectionate glance at this 
 wild flower of the woods. Jack hastened 
 away. 
 
 " That's my girl," he remarked to him- 
 self, as he humed over the short, soft 
 grass. " I wouldn't wish for a better 
 sweetheart. Pity she's a gipsy. How 
 funny of her to call me Jack of Eton. 
 That name will st[ck to me. She pro- 
 nounced it, too, Jackoveton, as if I was 
 a Eussian like herself." 
 
 He could see nothing of Owen Tudor 
 and Bill Bragg, who had probably gone 
 home. 
 
 He did not blame them for running 
 away, but he laughed at Bragg, who had 
 said that he was not afraid of gipsies. 
 
 He was beginning to see that Bragg 
 was an arrant boaster and 'a coward, full 
 of talk, but empty of fighting, yet, 
 though he despised such a character, he 
 found him amusing. 
 
 It was not easy to find his way out of 
 the mazes of Windsor 'Park. 
 
 He had gone some distance, and while 
 he was halting and deUberating as to the 
 best course to pursue, he found himself 
 in front of a large tree, which was sur- 
 rounded by an iron paling. 
 
 Its dried and withered branches, its 
 gnarled trunk and broken limbs, showed 
 that it had been dead for many years. 
 
 An inscription told him that it was 
 Heme's oak. 
 
 A noise as of someone behind him 
 made him turn round, and the sight he 
 beheld nearly froze the blood in his 
 veins. 
 
 A tall, fiendish-looking man, dressed 
 in ill-fitting garments made of deerskin, 
 hatless, but having his head surmounted 
 
20 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF lACK AT ETON: 
 
 by a set of stag's horns, which appeared 
 to grow out of his forehead, his long 
 black hair flying in the wind, stood 
 gazing at him. 
 
 His eyes were like coals of fire, and 
 the expression of his face ferocious in 
 the extreme. 
 
 " Who are you ? " asked Jack, as soon 
 as he had recovered from the start which 
 the sudden apparition of this singular 
 being had given him. 
 
 " Heme the Hunter," was the reply. 
 
 "He's been dead years ago," said 
 Jack. 
 
 A peal of wild fiendish laughter rang 
 through the crisp morning air. 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha ! Ho, ho, ho ! Heme 
 the Hunter can never die ! " exclaimed 
 the being in sepulchral tones. 
 
 Jack did not hesitate a moment, but 
 bracing himself for an encounter, he 
 made a dash at the apparition. 
 
 Heme cleverly eluded Jack's grasp, 
 and springing hghtly over the uon rail- 
 ings, vaulted into the blasted oak. 
 
 He climbed into the centre as nimbly 
 as a monkey. 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha ! Ho, ho, ho ! " 
 
 This mocking cry grated harshly on 
 Jack's ear again. 
 
 The next moment the fantastic form 
 had vanished as completely as if the 
 earth had swallowed it up. 
 
 Kubbing his eyes with astonishment, 
 Jack Dashley began to doubt the evidence 
 of his senses. 
 
 He could not credit the idea of the 
 creature being a spirit, but if it wsis not 
 a spirit, whatiwas it? 
 
 Where had it gone to ? 
 
 There was no time to make further 
 investigations, and it being already half- 
 past one, he again started towards 
 Windsor. 
 
 This time he was lucky in striking 
 the Long Walk, and when he got out of 
 the park he ran down the High Street 
 into Eton, and reached his tutor's in 
 time to wash his hands and brush his 
 hair for dinner. 
 
 He was thoroughly bewildered by the 
 events of the day. 
 
 Windsor Great Park had been fall of 
 exciting scenes and strange occurrences. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 TOWN AND GOWN. 
 
 Jack Dashley did not fail to relate all 
 the wonderful things he had seen to his 
 schoolfellows, but though they believed 
 all he said about the gipsies, they laughed 
 at his meeting with Heme the Hunter. 
 
 The gossip of the lower boys generally 
 reached the upper boys, and in due time 
 Timor and Funnybhd Major heard of it. 
 
 One morning at fagging, Timor ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 "What did the gipsies do to you, 
 Dashley ? " 
 
 " Nothing much," replied Jack. 
 " There was a Russian named Ivan 
 who was going to lick me for cheeldug 
 him, but a girl saved me." 
 
 " Afraid of a Russian, and saved by a 
 girl," sneered Timor. 
 
 Jack went on making the tea, and 
 made no answer. 
 
 " Vv'^hat did you say to this terrible 
 gipsy ? " continued Timor. 
 
 " I told him he was a Russian hound," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 " It would have served you right if he 
 had broken every bone in your body," 
 exclaimed Timor. " What i8 the 
 difiference between a Russian and an 
 EngUshman ? " 
 
 "One's a savage and the other's 
 civilised." 
 
 Funnybird laughed at this. 
 
 " I don't think you will get much the 
 best of Daaliley," he observed. " Take 
 my advice and drop the subject. I 
 say, Dashley, what about Heme the 
 Hunter ? " 
 
 " Oh, that's some infernal He of his," 
 growled Tmior. 
 
 " No it isn't," exclaimed Jack. " I 
 saw him distinctly and talked with him. 
 He had homs on his head and looked 
 awful." 
 
 " What became of him ? " asked 
 Funnybird. 
 
 "He jumped into the old tree they 
 call Heme's oak and disappeared." 
 
 Timor laughed incredulously. 
 
OK, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 " You can tell that to the marines," 
 he said. 
 
 " It's true." 
 
 " You might as well tell me that the 
 sky rains larks and ask me to believe it." 
 
 " You daren't come to the tree and 
 look for him," said Jack. 
 
 Timor got up and extended his big 
 arms. 
 
 " Daren't I ? " he answered. " Wait 
 till the next whole holiday, and I'll go 
 with you in the afternoon. Funnybird 
 shall come with us, and I'll show you 
 whether I am afraid or not." 
 
 " We shan't be able to go this week," 
 said Funnybird Major. 
 
 " Why not ? " 
 
 " Thursday is the only whole holiday, 
 and that is election day, 
 
 " Ah ! so it is. Our fellows have been 
 told not to make a row, haven't they ? " 
 repUed Timor. 
 
 " Yes," said Funnybird. " A bad 
 feeling exists between the Eton boys 
 and the townspeople of Windsor. We 
 had a row last election day, and there 
 was a figbt on the castle hill on the 5th 
 of Noveuiber." 
 
 " Of course I remember," replied 
 Timor. *' I was away on leave at the 
 time, staying with my &ther at the 
 embassy." 
 
 " I hear that the head -master has 
 sent a notice to all captains of houses." 
 
 "MTiat about?" 
 
 "To caution the Eton boys against 
 making any disturbance. But here is 
 Careless ; he will tell us all about it." 
 
 At this juncture Careless, the captain 
 of the house, entered the room and held 
 up a paper. 
 
 " I say, you fellows," he exclaimed, 
 "Doctor Goodford has sent word that 
 we are to be very careful on election 
 day, that is next Thursday. AU the 
 fellows will go up town after four, I 
 suppose, but they are not to irritate the 
 townspeople." 
 
 " Wbo cares for the town ? " said 
 Funnybird. 
 
 " Well, none of us do much," answered 
 Careless. 
 
 "We've licked them before and we 
 can do it again." 
 
 "Of course. I only give you the 
 headmaster's orders. It is no further 
 business of mine. I don't care so long 
 as we are not confined to college. For 
 
 my part I'd like to see a row with the 
 town." 
 
 " We should lick them into fits," 
 observed Timor. " I shall go in for it." 
 
 " All right. I have done my duty," 
 said Careless. 
 
 He went away to caution the other 
 boys in the house, but he did not seem 
 particularly zealous. 
 
 The fact was that the town had not 
 been very civil to the Eton boys on 
 various occasions recently. 
 
 On the 5th of November in the last 
 year there was a fair, as there is every 
 year in Batchelor's Acre in Windsor, and 
 the townspeople had provoked a fight by 
 attacking with overwhelming numbers 
 quite a small crowd of collegians. 
 
 It was felt that election day would 
 offer an opportunity for revenge, and 
 that was why the provost, the fellows, 
 the head-master and assistant-masters 
 had taken sweet counsel together, the 
 result being the issue of the general 
 order to which Careless had alluded. , 
 
 " By Jove ! " said Funnybird Major, 
 " won't we have a jolly lark ! " 
 
 " I'll take my knout with me," ex- 
 claimed Timor, " and warm the town." 
 
 Jack was thinking more of Heme the 
 Hunter. 
 
 " You won't forget your engagement 
 to hunt up Heme at the oak vrith me?" 
 he remarked. 
 
 "No," replied Timor; "that holds 
 good the first chance we get, and I 
 should lilve to see these gipsies too." 
 
 "We can do both," answered Jack. 
 " Ivan is a demon, but you would like 
 my Little Red-riding Hood, Effie. Do 
 you want anything for breakfast this 
 morning ? " 
 
 " No, you can go ; so step it." 
 
 Jack and Owen sat down to their own 
 breakfast, and talked about the election. 
 
 They had settled down to their work, 
 and felt themselves to be thorough 
 Etonians, consequently anything con- 
 cerning the honour of the school in- 
 terested them. 
 
 If the townspeople had insulted the 
 school, the town ought to be punished 
 at the first opportunity. 
 
 This was only strict partial justice. 
 
 Even Heme the Hunter and the 
 gipsies were forgotten in the excite- 
 ment caused by a public conflict on 
 the day of election. 
 
22 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON! 
 
 Mr. Bonar, a rich landowner in the 
 neighbourhood, was the Conservative 
 candidate, and he was the general 
 favourite with the boys. 
 
 His colour was blue, and quite a 
 quantity of blue ribbon was purchased 
 to be put in button-holes. 
 
 i\Ir. Potts, the Liberal, had also many 
 supporters. 
 
 His colour was yellow. He was a 
 gentleman from London with advanced 
 radical views, and he was the darling of 
 the town. 
 
 This fact alone was enough to make 
 the Etonians go wild over Bonar, and 
 wherever Potts' name was mentioned it 
 was received vrith groans. 
 
 Jack, Owen Tudor, and Bragg arranged 
 to go up to town together on election 
 day. 
 
 They had rosettes of the ribbon pinned 
 on their jackets, but they did not carry 
 any sticks, as they intended to depend 
 entirely on their fists. 
 
 Bragg was sitting on the table in 
 Jack's room, swinging his legs. 
 
 Owen Tu^or sat in the easy-chair, and 
 Jack poked the fire. 
 
 " I'll tell you what it is," said Bragg, 
 " if there's a row, I mean to come out 
 strong." 
 
 " So do I," replied Jack, who was 
 delighted at the idea. "I certainly 
 mean to let them have it hot." 
 
 " You are new fellows, and don't know 
 what a town and gown fight is," pui'sued 
 Bragg with that air of superiority which 
 long residence always gives a boj'. 
 
 " Why do they call us gown ? " inquired 
 Owen. 
 
 " Because we have seventy scholars on 
 the foundation who wear gowns ; we are 
 the oppidans, but stiU they call us all 
 gowns." 
 
 " Were you out in the Guy Fawkes' 
 riot ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "Wasn't I? We got badly Ucked 
 that time, because we were not organised. 
 I did nearlyall the fighting in Batchelor"s 
 Acre, and I saw these fellows I had mauled 
 carried to the hospital on a stretcher ; one 
 I believe never recovered." 
 
 " The sight of you will be enough for 
 the mob." 
 
 " It will. They all ran when they see 
 me. There's a young butcher named 
 Martin Fenwick, who leads the water- 
 side gang; he swore to have my life. 
 
 Let me meet him, that's all. I'll 
 
 Bragg got off the table and executed 
 a war-dance, and sparred wildly at 
 nothing in particular. 
 
 " By Jove ! " he added, in tragic 
 language ; " I'll welter in his gore." 
 
 Jack and Owen laughed at this 
 demonstration, for they firmly believed 
 that Bragg would not show fight at all. 
 
 When the day came the Etonians, 
 after four o'clock, might have been seen 
 wending their way up town in twos, 
 and threes, and fours. 
 
 Alost of them wore the blue ribbon, 
 and they stejjped along with an air of 
 determination as if they expected a 
 struggle, and were prepared for it. 
 
 The hustings were erected in the 
 market-pkice, at the top of the Castle 
 Hill, in front of the town hall. 
 
 A great crowd had assembled here, 
 which swayed to and fro. 
 
 Just as Jack and his two friends 
 arrived at this spot a placard was 
 hoisted. 
 
 "Result of the Poll, four o'clock — 
 Bonar, 3,564; Potts, 3,560." 
 
 " Hurrah for Bonar ! " exclaimed Jack, 
 taking off his hat. 
 
 " What are you holloaing for, young 
 Greek and Latin ? " asked a big youth 
 neiir him. 
 
 " Do you want to know ? " replied 
 Jack. 
 
 " If I didn't, I shouldn't ax." 
 
 " Then ax and find out." 
 
 Bragg touched Jack on the arm. 
 
 "That is the yoimg butcher," he 
 whispered ; " Martin Fenwick. I fixed 
 my eye on him, and saw him quail. We 
 must fight as long as we can. I'll go 
 down the hill and bring up reinforce- 
 
 " Going to leave ns ? 
 
 " Only for a few moments. I'm a 
 prudent general. Must have supports, 
 pitch in and give it them hot and 
 strong," repUed Bragg. 
 
 Jack had no time to say anything 
 more, fcr the young butcher pushed 
 his way towards him. 
 
 Of course the declaration of the poll 
 did not traly give the result of the 
 election, as all the votes had not yet 
 been counted, but it foreshadowed it. 
 
 The Conservative was ahead, and th« 
 " town " did not Uke it. 
 
OB, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 23 
 
 Fonwiok stretched out liis hand and 
 l.nocked Jack's hat off with an insolent 
 laugh. 
 
 " You're my mutton," he exclaimed. 
 •' Can you fight ? " 
 
 " You'll see directly," answered Jack. 
 
 '' Slip iu," said Owen. " I'm with 
 you, Jack." 
 
 " Kight you are. Come on, niutton- 
 hcail, there's one for your cheek." 
 
 The next moment the hutcher had 
 received a heavy blow in the mouth 
 which cut his lips and made all his teeth 
 rattle like castanets. 
 
 " How do you like that ? " asked Jack. 
 " There's another to keep it company." 
 
 The butcher, in nowise daunted, 
 span-ed up to Jack and stnic'k him. 
 
 This was the beginning of the 
 riot. 
 
 It was like the dropping of a lighted 
 match in a field of dry flax. 
 
 '' To^vn ! town ! " roared Fenwick, with 
 the energy of a young bull. 
 
 " Gown ! gown ! Eton to the rescue ! " 
 shouted Owen Tudor. 
 
 Scarcely were the words out of his 
 mouth when he was knocked down. 
 
 But he was up again in a moment and 
 fighting bravely like a true Welshman. 
 
 Jack had half-a-dozen on to him, and 
 he and Owen were obUged to retreat 
 down the hill. 
 
 "\Mien outside the " Castle Inn," they 
 were reinforced by a dozen collegians, 
 and kept the mob at bay. 
 
 The fight had become general all over 
 I he market-place, for wherever there was 
 an Etonian the roughs of Windsor 
 attacked him. 
 
 Careless, as well as being captain of 
 Mr. Dryasdust's house, was also captain 
 of the school, and he was in the crowd. 
 
 IMany of the Etonians had not yet 
 come up from college, and those who 
 'lad arrived at the scene of action were 
 ii!o-ily scattered. 
 
 Seeing this, Careless, who was a strong, 
 tall, powerful fellow, determined to rally 
 his forces. 
 
 " Give 'em 5th of jJ^ovember !" shouted 
 a townsman. "They're only a lot of 
 guys ! " 
 
 Careless gave him a blow which sent 
 him to count the number of stones in 
 the road, saying — 
 
 "There's a clinker on the jaw for 
 you ! " and mounted a costermonger's 
 
 barrow, _which made him towei- above 
 the crowd. 
 
 " Stick together, gown ! " he cried, in 
 a voice which was heai'd above the din. 
 " Retreat down the hill — steady — 
 shoulder to shoulder ! " 
 
 It was not easy to obey this mandate, 
 for many boys were tightly wedged in 
 the crowd, and were unable to get out. 
 
 IMany of them got badly knocked 
 about and had to undergo considerable 
 punishment before they could extricate 
 themselves. 
 
 At length about a couple of hundred 
 formed a solid platoon and presented a 
 bold front to the enemy. 
 
 But they were unable to stand long. 
 
 The roughs poured down upon them 
 lilie an avalanche, outnumbering the 
 schoolboys by at least two to one. 
 
 The Etonians broke and ran, but 
 formed again near the bridge, which 
 they held gallantly, like Horatius of old, 
 immortalised in Macaulay's verse. 
 
 They knew that others would soon 
 come up from the college. 
 
 Jack and Owen Tudor were pressed 
 down a small street which led to the 
 river b}' the butcher and half-a-dozen of 
 his companions. 
 
 " Now we've got 'em ! " cried Martin 
 Fenwick. " I hate schoolboys, end we'li 
 duck 'em in the river." 
 
 "Put your back against the wall, 
 Owen," said Jack. " Shoulder to shoulder, 
 and let them have it." 
 
 They stood side by side and fought 
 seven of the town, knocldng them about 
 like ninepins, but receiving some ugly 
 blows in return. 
 
 The young butcher showed plenty of 
 dogged pluck, and so did his friends. 
 
 Jack and Owen, however, had more 
 science, and they could not be driven 
 from the wall. 
 
 "It's no good, Martin," exclaimed 
 one, " we can't move 'em. They be fix- 
 tm-es, and their 'eds are so plaguey hard 
 I'm 'urting my knuckles." 
 
 Martin Fenwick was obstinate. 
 
 He had determined to duck the school- 
 boys, and he would not give up the 
 idea. 
 
 The unequal fight continued to rage. 
 
 Suddenly they heard) a cry of — 
 
 " Eton to the rescue ! Gown ! gown ! " 
 
 A score of Etonians, led by Bill Eragg, 
 were seen coming down the street, and 
 
TQE SCaOOLDAVS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 the town gave up the fight, running 
 away. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " cried Bragg. " I saw you 
 go down this street, and I just got a 
 few of the boys together. Where's that 
 butcher of mine ? Jly hand itches to 
 give him a dose from my bunch of fives. 
 Bring him out. \Vhy, here I am slap- 
 bang and all ali\T», and hang me if he 
 hasn't cut and run." 
 
 He looked round defiantly'. 
 
 " I knew how it would be," he con- 
 tinued ; " directly he saw me he fled. 
 Those town cads can't stand mo." 
 
 " How's the fight going up the street ? " 
 asked Jack. 
 
 " We're holding the bridge, and a 
 scout came up to say that Sulherlaud 
 had roused the whole school." 
 
 " That's good news." 
 
 " Oh, yes ; we shall make it hot for 
 them before long." 
 
 " Let us go back and help as much as 
 we can," exclaimed Jack, wiping the 
 blood from his nose. 
 
 " Certainly. You fellows go back," 
 replied Bragg. " I'll follow in a minute, 
 slap-bang and all alive, but I can't allow 
 that butcher fellow to escape me, afrer 
 I've been looking for him ever since the 
 5th of November last." 
 
 The other boys returned to help their 
 comrades, and Bill Bragg waited till they 
 were out of sight, when he turned into 
 a small ale-house. 
 
 There was no one in the private bar. 
 
 He knew the landlord, who said — 
 
 " So there is a disturbance in the town, 
 sir?" 
 
 " Yes, Taps," replied Bragg. " I've 
 been fighting like a Trojan." 
 
 " Just like you, I\Ir. Bragg. I suppose 
 vou want some beer after your exer- 
 tions ? " 
 
 "You've hit the nail on the head. 
 That's just what I do want. Our fellows 
 are holding the bridge." 
 
 "Indeed!" 
 
 " I came down here not so much for 
 the beer as to Uck Martin Fenwick the 
 butcher. He's a skulking hound. The 
 fellow no sooner sees me than he bolts. 
 Oh, if I could only get him to stand up 
 like a man. Slap-bang and all alive." 
 
 He began his favourite pantomim>? of 
 t-parring at nobody. 
 
 The door opened and in walked Fen- 
 wick, who had taken refuge in the next 
 
 compartment, and overheard ilr. Bragg's 
 uncomplimentary remarks regarding 
 himself. 
 
 Bragg stopped dancing, and putting 
 his hands in his pockets began to whistle. 
 
 "I think I heard you mention my 
 name ? " said the butcher. 
 
 " Hum ! yes," replied Bragg, " I was 
 inquiring for you. I know you use this 
 house occasionally." 
 
 « Well ? " 
 
 "The last time I was up town I 
 bought some chops at your shop on tick, 
 you know, and the fact is I was anxious 
 to pay for them. Only a couple of bob." 
 
 " Indeed ! " 
 
 " I'm straightforward always. SLip- 
 bang and all alive ! " 
 
 He handed him the two shillings, 
 which the butcher put in his pocket with 
 a sly chuckle. 
 
 " Don't you want a receipt ? " he asked. 
 
 " Oh, no. Not the slightest necessity 
 for that sort of thing between gentle- 
 men, you know," replied Bragg. 
 
 " I think I'd best give you one. Sap- 
 pose you take a slap in the eye and carry 
 the receipt about with you ? " 
 
 « Eh— what ? " 
 
 " It's business. Where will you have 
 it ? Eight or left ? " 
 
 Before Bragg could answer, the warlike 
 butcher struck him a blow in the eye 
 which made him measure his length on 
 the floor. 
 
 "That's to remember the cowardly 
 hound by," he exclaimed, as he walked 
 away and banged the door behind him. 
 
 Bill Bragg picked himself up and 
 shook ofifthe sawdust which had gathered 
 on his clothes. 
 
 The blow was a severe one and his 
 eye began to swell rapidly, making black 
 blood in the veins. 
 
 " Are you hurt, sir ? " asked the land- 
 lord, who could scarcely conceal his 
 merriment. 
 
 " Oh, no ; playful dog that," replied 
 Bragg ; " full of his nonsense. We 
 always skylark like that when we meet." 
 
 " You don't seem to mind it." 
 
 " Not in the least. Do the same 
 thing to him next time. It's only his 
 way. There isn't a better fellow really 
 in Windsor. Slap-bang and all alive, 
 tliat's my motto. Good-day. I mustn't 
 waste any more time. Got to go and 
 help the gown, you know." 
 
OR, THE ADVENTUUKS OF TWO COLLEUE CnCM8. 
 
 25 
 
 Rubbing bis injured eye, the irre- 
 pressible Bragg left the house and made 
 his way cautiously up the street. 
 
 lie had spoken incaiitiously, but he 
 flattered himself that he had thrown 
 dust in the eyes of the landlord. 
 
 The fight was waxing fast and furious 
 Bt the bridge. 
 
 Hundreds of Etonians were hurrying 
 up from college, and the town was 
 giving way. 
 
 Bragg saw Jack and Owen Tudor 
 charging the crowd, and he joined them, 
 taking care to keep behind them. 
 
 " Peg away ! " he exclaimed ; " I've 
 just licked the butcher ; awful hard 
 mill ; he gave me a lovely black eye, but I 
 polished him off. Slap-bang and all alive ! 
 Holloa ! that's a stunner. Who hit me ? " 
 
 Someone had dealt him a blow which 
 miule him see stars, and he went to the 
 rear to bring up more reinforcements, j 
 8.<5 he said. | 
 
 The town now broke, and the gown 
 pursued them up the hill with a ringing 
 cheer. | 
 
 The onslaught of the Etonians was 
 irresistible. 
 
 Nothing could withstand it, and though 
 the town made a final stand in the 
 market-place, it was clear that they were 
 getting the worst of it. 
 
 A platoon of police now appeared on 
 the scene, but they were powerless to 
 enforce order, and the Mayor of Windsor 
 sent for the military. 
 
 Two companies of the Grenadier 
 Guards were ordered out of the Sheet 
 Street Barracks, and marched up Peascod 
 Street to the scene of action. 
 
 The mayor, in great trepidation, stood 
 on the hustings and read the Eiot Act, 
 but someone threw a diseased turnip at 
 mm ana nit him on the nose. 
 
 He fell back into the arms of the 
 town clerk, who received a rotten egg in 
 the eye. 
 
 " P.less me ! " said the mayor ; " this 
 is dreadful." 
 
 " Awful ! " remarked the clerk. " But 
 you've got the best of it, they rotten- 
 egged me." 
 
 The officer in command of the Guards 
 marched them straight between the two 
 rows of combatants, and caused them to 
 face front and back in the market- 
 place. 
 
 " Boys ! " he exclaimpd ; " go back to 
 college. If you doa't, I'll drive you there 
 at the point of the bayonet, by Jove ! 
 I'm an old Etonian myself, but order 
 must be preserved." 
 
 Careless stepped forward boldly. 
 
 "Send the cads home first," he replied, 
 " and 111 answer for it we'll disperse 
 quietly." 
 
 The officer took the hint, and ordered 
 the rank facing the Windsor end of the 
 street to fix bayonets. 
 
 " They did so, and he gave the word 
 " Charge ! " 
 
 The townsmen did not wait for the 
 onset of the soldiers. 
 
 They ran in all directions, and tha 
 square was soon cleared. 
 
 Then Careless led the way back to 
 the college. 
 
 The Etonians formed themselves into 
 rows, linking their arms, and, taking up 
 the whole length of the street, drove 
 everything before them, even a dog or a 
 horse and cart being obUged to get oat 
 of their way. 
 
 If their triumph was not complet« 
 they at least had something to boast of, 
 for they had driven the town all the 
 way from the bridge to the market- 
 place. 
 
 Bruised faces and black eyes were the 
 order of the day, but there were no bones 
 broken. 
 
 So ended the memorable fight on 
 eleotion day, of which Etonians are proad 
 up to this time. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 TIMOR'S ADVENTURE IN THE PARK. 
 
 The election riot was very soon for- 
 gotten. 
 
 As nearly the whole school was con- 
 cerned in it, the head-master could not 
 
 select a few to punish as ringleaders, 
 making them scapegoats, so the affair 
 passed over. 
 
 Bragg miade a great deal of capital 
 
26 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 out of his black eye, and took no end of 
 " kudos " to himself. 
 
 If he was to be believed, he had done 
 all the fighting, and the school would 
 have been badly beaten had it not been 
 for him. 
 
 Jack Dashley did not omit to remind 
 Timor of the promise he had made to 
 come into Windsor Crreat Park and in- 
 vestigate the mystery connected with 
 the strange being who called himself 
 Heme the Hunter, 
 
 The first hohday afternoon was selected 
 for their journey, and they started for 
 Windsor, but not together. 
 
 Timor was a fifth form boy, and very 
 proud. 
 
 "I can't be seen walking up town, 
 you know, with a lower boy," he said. 
 
 " Why not ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Oh, it's bad foi-m. You cut up first, 
 and I'll meet you in the billitird-room at 
 the ' WTiite Hart.' " 
 
 " I'm as good as you," said Jack. 
 
 "That is certainly a matter of 
 opinion." 
 
 " Don't you think I am ? " 
 
 "Candidly, I do not," replied the 
 haughty Kussian. 
 
 " All right. Then you can go by your- 
 self," Jaclv said, independently. 
 
 " Where's my knout ? " cried Timor. 
 "I can't stand being cheeked for a 
 moment by a lower boy, and my own 
 fag, too." 
 
 *' You beastly Kussian bully," said 
 Jack. 
 
 " I'll lick j-ou more for that than any- 
 thing," replied Timor. Confound it ! 
 where did I put that knout ? " 
 
 " If you hit me, Timor," exclaimed 
 Jack, "I'U fight you as long as I can 
 stand." 
 
 " You will ? " 
 
 "Yes; and then 111 holloa, so that 
 the captain of the house will come and 
 put a stop to your bullying." 
 
 Timor had found his tmsted knotted 
 rope, and was swinging it in the air; but, 
 deterred by Dashley's threat, he did not 
 offer to touch him. 
 
 " Do you mean that ? " he asked. 
 
 " Of course I do. What do you take 
 me for — a fool ? " 
 
 "Look here," said Timor, "I don't 
 want to have any row with you. Cut 
 along, as I told you." 
 
 " I won't. If I am not good enough 
 
 to walk up town with you, 1 am too far 
 beneath you to walk in the park." 
 
 "But consider the ditl'erence in our 
 position. Who are you compared with 
 me?" 
 
 "The son of an English gentleman — a 
 professional man — and one well respected 
 in his position." 
 
 "My father is connected with the 
 Russian Embassy, and lie is a prince in 
 his own country. We have centuries of 
 good blood in our veins. In iiict, we 
 can date back before the foundation of 
 the Eussfan empire. The Tiraord were 
 counts before the time of Peter the 
 Great." 
 
 " I don't care a straw," answered Jack. 
 " We go together, or we don't go at 
 all." 
 
 "Look here," said Timor, with in- 
 creased insolence, " if you were in Kussia, 
 I should not consider you good enough 
 to black my boots." 
 
 " That ends it." 
 
 " In fact, I should have yon well 
 flogged, and then sent in chains to work 
 for the rest of your life in the mines of 
 Siberia." 
 
 " Would you ? Go and find Heme 
 for yourself. You are not in Kussia 
 now, so don't try any of yoiu- Russian 
 games on me or you'll find an Enghsh 
 boy won't stand them." 
 
 Timor paced the room impatiently ; 
 he wanted to undertake the adventure 
 he had proposed, and show Jack that he 
 was not afraid of anj-thing, but he re- 
 quired him as a gui^e. 
 
 " Well," he said, " I'll do it this once. 
 Come along. It grates upon me, for I 
 shall feel as if I was walking on the 
 banks of the Neva in St. Petersburg with 
 a poor relation." 
 
 " Have you no poor relations ? " asked 
 Jack. 
 
 " Oh, dear no ; my family are awfully 
 rich. We have no one in our circle that 
 we need be ashamed of; but let us 
 start," answered Timor. 
 
 They quitted the house together, and 
 proceeded to the park. 
 
 " You want to see the gipsies first, 
 don-'t you ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Yes ; I'll bet they are impostors. 
 Thsy call themselves Russians, but I'll 
 soon find out, for I am not to be made a 
 fool of easdy. I know my own country- 
 
OK, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 27 
 
 Jack led the way towards the gipsies' 
 camp. 
 
 The tents were still in the same posi- 
 tion, and it seemed as if the Ziugari 
 intended to make a long stay there. 
 
 Ivan was standing in front of a tent, 
 reading a letter. 
 
 "That is the chief," said Jack. 
 
 " Oh, is it ? I'll speak to him," an- 
 swered Timor. "Uow are you, old 
 man ? " 
 
 Ivan looked up and regarded him with 
 attention. 
 
 " Ha ! " he cried. " I think we have 
 met before." 
 
 ""WTiat?" cried Timor. 
 
 " I cannot be mistaken. You are 
 Timor Petroskowitch, and I am Ivan 
 your uncle." 
 
 "Good heavens," said Timor, "is it 
 possible that I find you here, the leader 
 of a band of gipsies ? " 
 
 After what he had said to Jack Dash- 
 ley, he felt the degradation keenly. 
 
 " Yes ; I am in disfavour with the 
 Czar. I cannot say anything more now. 
 \Vhat biiiigs you here ? " 
 
 " Curiosity, uncle, that is all." 
 
 " Salute me as a relative should," 
 continued Ivan. " Am I not a Petrosko- 
 witch and a chief of the Tartars ? " 
 
 Timor sank on one knee, and raising 
 the gipsy's hand to his lips, kissed it 
 respectfully. 
 
 If Jack bashley had not been present 
 and seen his humihation, he would not 
 have cared. 
 
 As it was, his pride liad had such a 
 fall that he was ready to sink into the 
 ground. 
 
 Jack Dashley was not only surprised 
 but amused at the position in which the 
 proud Eussian found himself, for after 
 boasting of his wealthy and important 
 connections it was a great fall for his 
 pride to have to acknowledge a gipsy as 
 his uncle. 
 
 He looked round for Effie, but did not 
 see her an^'where. 
 
 VvTiile he was searching with his eyes 
 among the tents, Timor rejoined him. 
 
 " Come," he said, " let us get away 
 from here." 
 
 " I am ready," replied Jack. " But I 
 should have liked you to see my little 
 girl. She is so pretty and nice." 
 
 "Another time," exclaimed Timor, 
 impatiently. 
 
 They strode rapidly awa,y, Timor 
 walking so fast that Jack could scarcely 
 keep up with him. 
 
 He was a great smoker of cigarettes, 
 and lighted one as if he wished to soothe 
 his nervous system. 
 
 " Jack," he said, in a more kindly 
 tone, " do you want any money ? " 
 
 " As it happens I do not," answered 
 Jack. " Why do you ask ? " 
 
 " Because I am rich, and I will always 
 give you all the tin you require if you 
 will not teU the other fellovcs about that 
 gipsy being my uncle." 
 
 " i shall reserve to myself the right to 
 talk if I Uke." 
 
 Timor turned fiercely upon him, and 
 Jack, clenching his fists, stood upon his 
 guard. 
 
 Timor scowled at Jack for a moment, 
 and then fiercely exclaimed — 
 
 " If you do tell, I'U lick you." 
 
 " That won't make any difference 
 when the thing is done, for I shall hit 
 back. However, you be my friend, and 
 I'U be yours." 
 
 Timor was obliged to be satisfied with 
 this undertaking, and continued his walk 
 in moody silence. 
 
 He found that Jack could neither be 
 bribed nor threatened, and he wished 
 fifty times over that his curiosity had 
 not led him into the forest. It would 
 be hard to bear if the boys knew all, and 
 called him gipsy. 
 
 He was not a popular character; his 
 bullying propensities had made him 
 many enemies, and if the boys once 
 began to chaff him, he could not fight 
 the whole school. 
 
 Half-an-hour"s walk brought them to 
 Heme's oak, and by this time Timor 
 had partially recovered his serenity. 
 
 " Is this the tree where you saw 
 Heme disapj^ear ? " he inquired. 
 
 " It is where I saw the creature I took 
 to be Herne the Hunter," Jack replied. 
 
 Timor regarded the old tree curiously, 
 and his eyes travelled along its withered 
 branches, which displayed no sign of fife, 
 vegetable or animal. 
 
 "You must have been dreaming," 
 he continued. "Are you subject to 
 delusions ? " 
 
 "Not in the least. My head was 
 never more clear than it was on that 
 occasion, though I admit I was startled." 
 
 " If I had seen the creature I'd have 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OK JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 followed it and soon found out whether 
 it was a spirit or not, hut of course it 
 could not be a spirit — ghosts are an 
 ex{)loded idea." 
 
 At this moment the weird spectral 
 laughter, which had so startled Jack, 
 was heard. 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha ! " 
 
 Timor started, and felt the blood in 
 bis veins turn cold. 
 
 " ^laledictiou ! " he cried ; " someone 
 is mocking me." 
 
 " It is Heme," replied Jack. 
 
 " Ho, ho, ho ! " laughed the spirit. 
 
 " Let us turn back," continued Jack. 
 " There is something so canny, as the 
 Scots saj', about this." 
 
 " I'll be shot if I do," said Timor. 
 " You shall never say that a Russian 
 was a cowai'd." 
 
 " Nor am I, as far as that goes," Jack 
 returned. "But we can see nothing, 
 and if we do, the thing disappears like a 
 will-o'-the-wisp or the jack-o'-lantem." 
 
 " It is some trick. Ha I there it is ! 
 G-ood Hejiven! It is just like the 
 description I have always heard of 
 Heme the Hunter." 
 
 In fact the same strange creature, 
 dressed in deerskins, and having the 
 branching horns of a stag on its fore- 
 head, appeared in the tree. 
 
 " St. Nicholas defend us ! " added 
 Timor, crossing himself. 
 
 The spirit stood on a bough half-way 
 v.p the tree, and shook its long skele- 
 tonic arm at Timor. 
 
 Urged by an unmistakable impulse 
 the latter sprang over the railings and 
 darted to the foot of the tree. 
 
 " Come down," he esclaimed, " or I'll 
 make you. Do you think I am going 
 to stand here to be mocked by a false 
 juggler like you ? " 
 
 Heme beckoned to him to come 
 up. 
 
 Showing no signs of fear, but only 
 those of rage, the impatient Eussian 
 began to climb into the tree. 
 
 No sooner had he done so than Heme 
 stretched out his hand, sei2ed him by 
 the collar as if he had been a child, and 
 drew him up into the tree. 
 
 The next instant Timor uttered a cry 
 which rang wildly through the forest, 
 and both he and Heme disappeared 
 together. 
 
 Jack Dashley rubbed his eyes as if he 
 
 could not believe the evidence of his 
 senses. 
 
 In broad daylight, in the middle of 
 the day, his schoolfellow had been 
 spirited away, he knew not whither. 
 
 " By Jove," he muttered, " that's a 
 corker. Where is he gone to ? Timor 
 — Timor ! " 
 
 There was no answer. 
 The sound of his voice was returned 
 to him in multitudinous echoes, resound- 
 ing among the huge trees by which ho 
 was surrounded, and that was all. 
 
 Creeping cautiously np to the tree. 
 Jack walked round it, kicking it with 
 his feet. 
 
 It gave out a hollow cavernous sound, 
 as if it wa.s decayed. 
 
 Then he climbed into the branches, 
 and to his surprise found a big hole 
 leading into the trunk, the orifice being 
 quite large enough for the body of a 
 man to go through. 
 
 This seemed to afford him some slight 
 explanation of the mystery. 
 
 It was possible that the strange api>a- 
 rition ha^l dragged Timor down this hole, 
 but for what purpose it was impossible 
 to say. 
 
 Bending over the aperture he agaiti 
 called his missing companion by name, 
 but as before he received no answer, 
 though he fancied he heard a stifled cry 
 proceeding from the unknown depths 
 below. 
 
 While peering into the cavernous 
 abyss a sudden flash of fire took place, 
 which was followed by a dense sulphur- 
 ous smoke, which half choked and blinded 
 him. 
 
 " Bah ! " he said. " It seems as if Old 
 Nick and all his imps are down there 
 burning sulphur." 
 
 He hastily beat a retreat and dropped 
 on the ground, admitting to himself that 
 it was useless to attempt anything more. 
 After a few moments' reflection he de- 
 termined to hasten back to college and 
 tell j\Ir. Dryasdust what had happened. 
 
 Probably if the college police were 
 put on the track they would make an 
 effort to rescue Timor, of which Jack by 
 himself was not capable. 
 
 Getting out of the park into Old 
 Windsor he made the best of his way 
 into college, and on reaching the house 
 inquired for his tutor, who he was 
 informed would be found in the library. 
 
®R, TOE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 ii9 
 
 ]VIr. Dryasdust was a very learned 
 man. 
 
 It was admitted by all that he was 
 one of the most accomplished Greek and 
 Latin scholars that Eton had ever turned 
 out, and at King's College, Cambridge, 
 he had especially distinguished him- 
 self. 
 
 He was also a great antiquary, and for 
 the last ten years he had been engaged 
 in writing a book of reseaich on Windsor 
 Castle, its history and traditions. 
 
 This was his magnum opus, or great 
 work. 
 
 It had taken up all his time for ten 
 years, and involved great labour. 
 
 He expected to have it finished soon, 
 and looked forward fondly to the time 
 when it would be published and bring 
 him fame if not fortune. 
 
 \Vhen Jack entered the cosy library 
 in which he was writing, surrounded by 
 piles of books for reference, he looked up 
 kindly. 
 
 Though he did not talk much to the 
 boys, several generations of scholais had 
 regarded him with love and affection, 
 for he was at all times just. 
 
 " Ah, Dashley," he said, " what can I 
 do for you ? " 
 
 "A most curious thing has happened, 
 sir," replied Jack, holding his hat in his 
 hand. 
 
 " Yes ? Be seated. Take your time 
 and don't be in a hurry. I can see you 
 are a little excited." 
 
 " So would you be, sir. Timor and I 
 went for a walk in Windsor Great Park, 
 and we came to Heme's oak. Heme 
 appeared to us in the tree, dressed in 
 the traditional deerskins and homs. He 
 laughed at us. Timor sprang into the 
 tree. Heme seized him and they dis- 
 appeared down a hollow in the tree." 
 
 JNIr. Dryasdust adjusted his spectacles 
 and looked fixedly at Jack. 
 
 " This is very remarkable," he said. 
 " The legend of Heme the Hunter is a 
 very old one. I have written much con- 
 reraing him, and we have numerous 
 well-authenticated instances of his ap- 
 iiearance in the forest from time to 
 time." 
 
 "Do you believe he is a spirit, 
 sir ? " 
 
 " He cannot very well be a man, as he 
 has been dead for centuries. I fear 
 some dreadful fate has overtaken Timor. 
 
 We must put the matter in the hands 
 of the police, though I doubt if they can 
 do anything." 
 
 " May it not be a tri^k of some de- 
 signing person — some thief in league 
 with the gipsies ? " 
 
 " I laiow not. Windsor Castle is full 
 of subterranean passages, spiral stair- 
 cases in the walls, and sliding-panels. 
 In the forest there are caves which are 
 only known to the antiquary by oJd 
 plans found in long disused books. Here," 
 said Mr. Dryasdust, tapping a moth- 
 eaten tome, " is a plan of an underground 
 passage leading from the Curfew Tower 
 to the banks of the river. I could tell . 
 you much that would interest you re- 
 specting the castle, but I have not time. 
 When my book comes out, people wili 
 be astonished at what I shall disclose 
 about this ancient fortress, now the 
 favourite abode of royalty." 
 
 " Will you see the police, or I, sir- ? " 
 asked Jack. 
 
 "We will walk up town together ; all 
 that can be done for Timor shall be 
 effected without delay." 
 
 ]\Ir. Dryasdust put on his hat and 
 quitted the house with Jack, who was 
 terribly impatient to have the mystery 
 solved. 
 
 Scarcely had they got into the road, 
 when they saw a boy approaching. 
 
 His coat was torn and covered with 
 dust, his hat was gone, and his face was 
 pale and haggard. 
 
 "^Vhy, bless me," cried Mr. Dryasdust, 
 "that is Timor. We are saved our 
 trouble." 
 
 Timor on hearing his name pronotmced 
 looked up, and would have passed by 
 without si^eaking, if his tutor had not 
 stopped him. 
 
 " How did you escape from Heme the 
 Hunter ? "' demanded Mr. Diyasdust ; 
 "we were just going to rouse the pohce 
 in your behalf." 
 
 " Oh, it was all right, sir. I — I fell 
 down a hole in the tree," he replied. 
 
 " Were you hurt ? " 
 
 " Only a little shaken." 
 
 "But who was this singular being, 
 habited in the garb of Heme, who 
 dragged you down ? " 
 
 " I saw nobody, sir," answered Timor, 
 trying to laugh. "I see Dashley has 
 been telling you something which exists 
 only in his vivid imagination." 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 At this declaration. Jack was more 
 astonished than ever. 
 
 What on earth could have induced 
 Timor to tell such a palpable false- 
 hood ? 
 
 " You did not see Heme ? " 
 
 " No, sir ; I climbed into the tree for 
 fun, slipped down the hole, and Dashley 
 I suppose was fi-ightened, for he left me 
 to scramble out again the best way I 
 could." 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust looked inquiringly at 
 Jack. 
 
 " You must have deceived yourself," 
 he exclaimed; "and in futm-e I will 
 thank you not to come to me with such 
 absurd stories, though I must confess 
 that my reading has inclined me to 
 believe Ihera." 
 
 " I'll swear that what I have told yon, 
 air, is the truth," repUed Jack. 
 
 " You must have been mistaken, or 
 Timor would not be so positive. Rim 
 ;xlang with your fi-iend now, and help 
 liim to make himself look decent." 
 
 Saying this in a somewhat severe tone, 
 jMr. Dryasdust re-entered the house 
 through a private door, and seeking his 
 library, at once resumed the studies 
 which Jack's arrival had so rudely in- 
 terrupted. 
 
 " What do you mean by telling such 
 a crammer ? " he asked. 
 
 "Don't ask me any questions," replied 
 Timor. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " I'm bound to secrecy." 
 
 " ^^^lo was the fellow who pulled yoii 
 down the tree, and where did you go ? " 
 continued Jack. 
 
 " I caji't tell you, for I am under an 
 oath," Timor said almost sadly; "that 
 is all about it. I only wish to goodness 
 I had never gone into the forest with 
 you." 
 
 With this answer Jack was obliged to 
 be content, for though he plied the 
 Kussian artfully with questions, he could 
 ostract absolutely nothing from him. 
 
 The mystery, whatever it was, deepened 
 and became more and more impenetrable 
 than ever. 
 
 Timor begged him to say nothing 
 about their adventure, and he consented, 
 as he saw that the boys would not believe 
 him, if Timor persisted in his denial. 
 
 Not even to Owen Tudor did he 
 mention about what had happened. 
 
 Going to his room he was surprised to 
 find it in a state of confusion, 
 
 Ever^'thing was upset, chairs were 
 piled upon the tiibles, Iwoks scattered 
 about, the bed placed in the middle of 
 the floor, pictures taken down and his 
 clothes strewn in different directions. 
 
 Somebody during his absence had been 
 engaged in the pleasing pastime known 
 to school-boys as " malciug hay." 
 
 Much annoyed, he sought Owen's 
 room, and found him talking to Bill 
 Bragg, who was relating some marvellous 
 adventure, in which he alleged he had 
 taken part. 
 
 " Some fellow has made hay in my 
 room," said Jack. " Have you seen any- 
 one about'? " 
 
 " Yes," replied Owen ; " I saw Funny- 
 bird Minor come out of your diggings a 
 little while ago, and thought he had 
 been to borrow a book or something." 
 
 " I'll wring his neck ! " said Jack 
 angrily. 
 
 " You'd better look out. His brother 
 messes with Timor, and he'll get you 
 jolly well licked." 
 
 " No, he won't either ; Timor daren't 
 say anything to me." 
 
 At this declaration Owen looked greatly 
 surprised. 
 
 " How did you manage to tame the 
 Eussian Bear ? " he asked. 
 
 " Never you mind ; I have tamed him." 
 " Oh," said Bragg, " Timor is a coward 
 at heart ; he can only talk. One day he 
 tackled me, and I gave him as good as he 
 sent, and since then he has let me 
 alone," 
 
 " How was it ? " asked Jack. 
 Bill Bragg was sitting before the fire 
 in Owen's easy-chair, with his back to 
 the door, which was open. 
 
 He could not see behind him, and con- 
 sequently was not aware that Timor was 
 standing" on the threshold, but he was 
 there. 
 
 He had come to lock for a lower boy 
 to fag up to the " Christopher " to get 
 him a bottle of sherry, as he wanted a 
 ghiss of wine after his mysterious and 
 startling adventure in the forest. 
 
 The "Chiistopher" is the principal 
 hotel in Eton, and has been shrined in 
 the memories of many generations of 
 Etonians. 
 
 It is here that the "men in the 
 boats " meet after the great race of the 
 
3U, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CnUMS. 
 
 sr 
 
 summer season and drink champagne 
 cup in honour of the victors before they 
 march down town iu two rows to hoist 
 the winners, all of which will in due 
 time be portrayed in the course of our 
 story. 
 
 When Timor heard his name men- 
 tioned, he smiled and winked one eye at 
 Jack and Owen. 
 
 " You know," resumed Bragg, " that 
 I'm always slap-bang and all alive. There 
 13 no nonsense about me." 
 
 '•' Not a bit," said Owen. 
 
 " Timor tried it on with me. One 
 day he said, soon after I came here, 
 'Are you a lower boy?' 'What's that 
 to you ? ' I replied. ' I want a fellow to 
 cut up town,' he said. ' Go and get 
 one,' I exclaimed. ' It isn't everybody 
 who can fag me.' " 
 
 " WTiat did he say to that ? " asked 
 Jack. 
 
 " Timor ? Oh, he drew in his horns 
 and said, ' I beg your pardon, Mr. Bragg. 
 I didn't mean to offend you. Will you 
 kindly send me the first lower boy you 
 meet, and I shall be extrc?mely obliged 
 to you ! ' " 
 
 At this Timor could not restrain his 
 mirth, and burst out into a loud tit of 
 laughter. 
 
 Bill Bragg turned round uneasily. 
 
 " Something seems to have amused 
 you fellows," he exclaimed. " By George, 
 Timor ! " 
 
 Then he too began to laugh. 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " he exclaimed. " I knew 
 you were there. I'm a sly dog — slap- 
 bang and all alive ! " 
 
 " So I should think," replied Timor. 
 
 " Oh, I may be a young man from the 
 country, but you don't get over me." 
 
 " Will you go up to the ' Christopher' 
 and get me a bottle of slierry ? Tell 
 them to put it down to my tick. I don't 
 like to trust you with the money." 
 
 " Good joke that. Of course I'll go. 
 Anything to oblige you, old boy. How 
 do you like your tipple, sweet or dry ? " 
 
 " Dry. INIake haste. If you don't 
 look sharp I'll get out my knout." 
 
 "Xo occasion for that. If there ia 
 one man in this house I like fagging for 
 it is you — quite a pleasure, upon my 
 word," said Bragg, 
 
 Timor retired, and Bragg put on his 
 hat with a yawn. 
 
 " Deuced hard on a fellow when he's 
 
 comfortable before the fire," remarked 
 Owen. 
 
 "Not at all," answered Bragg; "a 
 run before dinner will give me an appe- 
 tite. I was thinking of taking a stroll. 
 Ts, ta ! " 
 
 He hurried off, mindful of the threat 
 about the kuout which Timor had made 
 use of, and as he had tasted it on ona 
 occasion he rather fought shy of it. 
 
 " That fellow is like an eel," observed 
 Owen. " No matter what fixes he gets 
 himself into, he wriggles out of them 
 again as easily as some fellows can do 
 Latin verses." 
 
 A voice outside was heard sajdng 
 "Ba-a-a!" and it made Owen colour 
 up. 
 
 " That's Funnybird Minor doing the 
 goat," he said. " He can't let us alone." 
 
 "It reminds me that I owe him a 
 licking," replied Jack, rushing out of the 
 door. 
 
 They caught Funnybird in the passage, 
 and Jaclv, seizing him by the arm, gave 
 him a box on the ears. 
 
 " I'll teach you to make hay in my 
 room," he cried. 
 
 "I didn't, and you can't prove it," 
 replied Funnybird Jlinor. 
 
 " Yes, you did. Tudor saw you come 
 out. Take that ! " 
 
 He hit him again, this time hai-der 
 than before. 
 
 " I'll tell my major," he exclaimed. 
 
 " I don't care who you tell." 
 
 Owen gave him a kick. 
 
 " That's for the goat," he remarked. 
 
 FuTlnybird wrenched himself from 
 them, and ran to his brother's room cry- 
 ing for help, and his brother, followed 
 by Timor, came out. 
 
 " WTiat's the row ? " he demanded. 
 
 " Dashley's licking me because he says 
 I made hay in his room, and I told him 
 you wouldn't let him." 
 
 Funnybird seized hold of Jack's ear 
 and pulled it. 
 
 " You little disguster," he exclaimed, 
 " didn't I tell you that I wouldn't have 
 my brother touched ? " 
 
 " Wliy can't he let me alone ? " 
 replied Jack. 
 
 Funnybird was about to administer 
 condign punishment upon Jack, whicb 
 his superior size fully enabled him to do, 
 when Timor intei i'ered. 
 
 " Let him go ! " lie said ; " Dashley is 
 
32 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS oF JACK AT ETON : 
 
 a friend of mine. You don't want to 
 quarrel with me, do you ? " 
 
 " Not exactly ! " answered Funny bird 
 Major, releasing Jack. " But I don't 
 quite understand this." 
 
 Timor drew F'unnybird into the room 
 and whispered something in his ear ; at 
 the same time the diuner-bell rang, and 
 they all began to prepare for the mid- 
 day meal. 
 
 "I wonder T\^~7 took your part," 
 observed Owen. 
 
 " He couldn't very well do otherwise, 
 only that's a secret ! " Jack replied. 
 
 " From me ? " 
 "Yes, for the present." 
 " I thought I was your chum ? " 
 " So you are, dear boy, .ind sorae 
 day I may tell you all, but not just 
 now." 
 
 Owen was not half satisfied with 
 this answer, but he was glad to see 
 that Timor was Jack's friend, for the 
 liussian held a high position in the 
 house, and had a great deal of influence 
 for good or e\-il, both from his great 
 strength and his long standing in the 
 school. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TRANGE VISITORS. 
 
 Jack was working very hard to obtain an 
 extra mathematical prize which was 
 given by Mr, Drinkwater, one of the 
 assistant mathematical masters. 
 
 He was a private pupil of ]\Ir. Drink- 
 water, who did not take any boarders, 
 but had a small house in the college. 
 
 Twice a week he went in the evening 
 with Owen Tudor and Bill Bragg to Mr. 
 Drinkwater's house, and was initiated in 
 the mysteries of Euclid and algebra. 
 
 A day or two after the events described 
 in the last chapter, he had apphed to 
 and obtained permission from his t*itor 
 to sit up an hour later than usual. 
 
 His head was full of if A be the centre 
 of the circle BCD, etc., and simple 
 equations, imtil it ached with all the 
 knowledge that he had put into it. 
 
 Feeling hot and feverish, he opened 
 the window and looked out. 
 
 It was exactly eleven o'clock, for he 
 heard the college clock strike the 
 hour. 
 
 All at once he heard someone whistle, 
 and looking into the starlight night, he 
 perceived two figures standing in the 
 yard. 
 
 They were just outside Timor's win- 
 dow, which was on the first floor, about 
 fifteen feet from the ground. 
 
 The whistle seemed to be a signal, 
 but as no notice was taken of it, one of 
 the men threw a handful of gravel up at 
 the window, 
 
 A street lamp threw a little light into 
 the yard, and Jack noticed that one of 
 
 the men, who was muffled in a thick 
 cloak, was of unusual size and height. 
 
 He could not help thinking that this 
 individual bore a striking resemblance 
 to Ivan Petroskowitch, the gipsy, while 
 tlie thin, elongated, attenuated,' form of 
 the other reminded him strangely of 
 Heme the Hunter. 
 
 Retreating into his room, he took the 
 precaution to blow out the candle, so 
 that the room was in utter darkness. 
 
 The light would have attracted the 
 attention of those without, and he 
 wished to be able to watch their move- 
 ments. 
 
 \Vlien the gravel was thrown at the 
 window it roused Timor, who f»pened 
 the casement. 
 
 "Below there," he said, in a cautious 
 tone. 
 
 "Moscow!" replied the man in the 
 cloak. 
 
 Timor immediately let something fall 
 out of the window, which Jack with 
 some difficulty perceived wa,s a rope- 
 ladder. 
 
 He made one end of it fast to the bar 
 going across the window and the other 
 end fell on the ground. 
 
 By the aid of this the two men 
 chmbed up to Timor's room and entered 
 it, being lost to sight. 
 
 Jack continued at the window for fully 
 half-an-hour, when he saw the men re- 
 appear, and this time they had with 
 them a sack which appeared to be very 
 heavy. 
 
 Tliere tvill soon be some new features introduced in tl^e 
 JourtiaL" Look out for announcements I 
 
 'Boya' Comic 
 
I 1 u 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 PRICE ONE HALFPENNY 
 
 [Published Evbbt Monday.] 
 
Olf, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 36 
 
 With difficulty the men got the sack 
 down the rope-ladder, and disappeared 
 as mjsteriously as they had come. 
 
 There was nothing more to be seen, 
 and closing his window. Jack went to 
 bed much perplexed and puzzled at what 
 had taken place. 
 
 Who were Timor's mysterious noc- 
 turnal visitors, and what did they want 
 in the house at that time of night ? 
 
 These were questions which he did 
 not find it easy to answer. 
 
 In the morhing Jack went downstairs 
 to the kitchen to get a cup of cofifee 
 before he went into school, and in the 
 hallway he met the footman, who, owing 
 to a cast in his left eye, had been chris- 
 tened " Cockeye " by the boys. 
 
 He was in a very perturbed and agi- 
 tated state, which did not fail to attract 
 Jack's attention. 
 
 " Anything up ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Hup ? " replied Cockeye ; " I should 
 say there was." 
 
 ""What is it?" 
 
 " The 'ouse has been robbed during 
 the night. AH the plate's carried off, 
 and missis's jewels is gone. It's a clear 
 five thousand pounds robbery." 
 
 "\Miew ! " whistled Jack. 
 
 " It's so mysterious," continued Cock- 
 eye. "The 'ouse aiivt been entered 
 anywhere. We can't make hout 'ow the 
 thieves got in. The butler's gone hup 
 to the police, but it's a queer start." 
 
 Jack said nothing, but he thought of 
 what he had seen the night before, and 
 could not help associating Timor's mid- 
 night visitors witli the robbery. 
 
 Taking his coffee, he went into school, 
 and having got through his lessons, he 
 after 2:>rayers prepared for fagging. 
 
 Timor looked very ill. 
 
 In fact, he did not seem to have slept 
 all night, for his eyes were red and 
 swollen, and his face wore an anxious 
 expression. 
 
 Jack did not know what to do. 
 
 He felt it his duty of tell Mr. Dryas- 
 dust that he had seen strange people 
 enter Timor's room, but on the other 
 hand he might be accusing the Eussian 
 wrongfully. 
 
 Being in doubt, he resolved to speak 
 to Timor first. 
 
 " You look bad," he remarked. 
 
 " Yes. I could not sleep last night," 
 replied Timor. 
 
 " No more could I," answered Jack. 
 " I was looking out of my window at 
 eleven o'clock." 
 
 Timor sank into a chair as if he had 
 been shot. 
 
 " You can go," he said. " I don't 
 want anything this morning, and if 
 Funnybird requires anything, Tudor can 
 fetch it." 
 
 Jack looked upon this dismissal as a 
 sign of guilt. 
 
 He, however, retired, and prepared his 
 own breakfast, being soon afterwards re- 
 joined by Owen, who seemed in a bad 
 temper. 
 
 " Just my luck," said Owen. "College 
 rolls again. I wish that fellow Funny- 
 bird would choke himself over them." 
 
 Putting on his hat, he departed to 
 seek the hot soft roll for the delectation 
 of his master's appetite. 
 
 Scarcely had Jack commenced his 
 breakfiist, which consisted of sardines 
 and bread and butter, than Timor entered 
 the room, closing the door carefully after 
 him. 
 
 " Dashley," he exclaimed, " I want you 
 to promise me that you will not say any- 
 thing about what you saw last night." 
 j " Wh}' not ? " replied Jack. 
 ; "Because it might get me into 
 I trouble. You have heard the news, I 
 I suppose ? " 
 
 " About the robbery, you mean ? " 
 
 " I heard that the first thing this 
 morning." 
 
 "Don't you see," pursued Timor, 
 " that I might be mixed up in the 
 afifair ? " 
 
 " Certainly I do. But who were your 
 visitors ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " That I cannot say." 
 
 "I feel I ought to tell Mr. Dryas- 
 dust," said Jack, thoughtfully. " That 
 is to say, if I am asked." 
 
 " Oh, well, if you wait till then I am 
 all right. No one is likely to ask you 
 any questions." 
 
 " ^^^ly should you be afi-aid ? " in- 
 quired Jack. 
 
 " I'm not afraid," Timor replied, petu- 
 lantly ; " only it looks suspicious. Two 
 friends came to see me last night, and 
 the robbery took place. Of course my 
 friends had nothing to do with it, but I 
 might be associated with it. Will you 
 promise me to keep your mouth closed ? " 
 
36 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 " No, I will not." 
 
 " You defy me ? " 
 
 " If you like to regard it in that light 
 you cau." 
 
 " Then I am your enemy," said Timor, 
 grinding his teeth. 
 
 " It strikes me, my dear boy," replied 
 Jack, " that as things stand at this 
 moment I can do you infinitely more 
 harm than you can do me." 
 
 "All ri;rlit; \vc will see." 
 
 " I shah exorcise my own discretion 
 in this matter," continued .Tack. 
 
 " Will you do me one favour ? " asked 
 Timor. 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " Wait till to-morrow before you say 
 anything." 
 
 "Yes, I don't mind that," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 Timor left him, apparently satisfied 
 with this answer, but Jack was annoyed 
 with himself directly he had gone for 
 having made the promise. 
 
 A big robbery had been conmiitted, 
 and he could not doubt that Timor wai 
 in some way associated with it, even 
 though he might not have derived any 
 particular benefit from it. 
 
 That there was some mysterious con- 
 nection between him and the gipsies 
 commanded by his uncle was clear. 
 
 It was Jack's duty to tell his tutor all 
 that he knew, yet he resolved to wait 
 until the next day before he said any- 
 thing. 
 
 Perhaps, he thought on reflection, his 
 story would be denied by Timor and 
 laughed at by everyone, simply because 
 it was so extremely improbable. 
 
 lie was certainly placed in an un- 
 pleasant position, and he wished he had 
 known nothing about it. 
 
 When Owen came back he found that 
 Jack had not touched his breakfast. 
 
 " You need not have waited for me," 
 he remarked. 
 
 " I was thinking," replied Jack. 
 
 "Of what?" 
 
 " Oh, that problem we have to work 
 out at old Driukwater's to-night," said 
 Jack, evasively. " Draw the straight 
 line A B, and if A be the centre of the 
 circle B C D " 
 
 " Oh, shut up ! " interrupted Owen. 
 " Cut the shop out of school." 
 
 " I can't." 
 
 " You'll have Euclid on the brain." 
 
 " Can't help it, dear boy," said Jack. 
 " I was bom to be a mathematician. But 
 what worries me most just now is my 
 Latin theme." 
 
 " I've done mine all right." 
 
 " So have I done mine— after a 
 fashion. I didn't take any trouble over 
 it, though, and I'm afiaid it won't 
 pass." 
 
 They finished breakfast, and Jack 
 went into the pupils' room to have the 
 theme coiTected before he showed it up 
 in school. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust sat at his desk, and 
 when it was put before him made many 
 corrections. 
 
 At length he took it in his hands and 
 tore it up. 
 
 The unlucky theme was " torn over," 
 which meant that it must be done 
 again. 
 
 " This is the worst piece of work you 
 have shown up yet, Dashle}'," said Mr. 
 Dryasdust. " If you do not do more 
 careful studies I shall have to complain 
 of you to the head master." 
 
 This conveyed the threat of a flogging, 
 and Jack felt uncomfortable. 
 
 " I'm very sorry, sir," he replied. 
 
 " Do your work conscientiously, and 
 be not dazzled by visions of imaginary 
 Heme the Hunters." 
 
 " Please, sir, I saw " 
 
 " Tush ! you must not think that be- 
 cause I am a well-known antiquary you 
 can tell me ghost stories," interrupted 
 Mr. Dryasdust, impatiently. 
 
 " I did indeed see Heme, and Timor 
 is a liar." 
 
 "What! Use better language, sir. 
 Write out fifty lines of Ovid for using 
 that expression." 
 
 " I mean he did not speak the truth, 
 sir." 
 
 " Then say what you mean." 
 
 " I mean what I say," cried Jack. 
 
 " What's that?" demanded the master. 
 
 " Nothing, sir," replied Jack, thinking 
 it advisable to keep quiet. 
 
 He had read somewhere that language 
 was given to man to conceal his thoughts. 
 
 In the present instance he could not 
 do better than act on that admirable 
 principle, as he had no wish to incur the 
 resentment of his tutor, which would 
 surely procure him an interview with the 
 head master, which could not fail to be 
 of a painful nature. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 37 
 
 ISIr. Dryasdust handed him a key, 
 saying— 
 
 " This is the key of my library. I 
 never allow anyone but myself in there, 
 not even a servant. I dust the table 
 and the shelves myself, because I am 
 afraid of having my papers stolen or 
 disarranged." 
 
 " What shall I do with it, sir ? " 
 
 And boy and man stood confronting 
 each other. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust pointed to the key, 
 saying— 
 
 " Let yourself in. You will find on 
 shelf A an essay on Curtius, who leaped 
 into the gulf to save Rome. That is 
 the subject of your theme. Eead it, 
 and improve on your subject." 
 
 This was very kind of Mr. Dryasdust, 
 and Jack felt it to be so. 
 
 " Thank you, sir," he answered. " I 
 will try to do better in future." 
 
 "Judging from your effort to-day, 
 Dashley, there is room for improvement," 
 replied Mr. Dryasdust, sarcastically. 
 
 Jack made no answer to this speech, 
 but taking up the key, went to the 
 library and opened the door to get the 
 book referred to. 
 
 He had scarcely opened it before Owen 
 Tudor ran up to him. 
 
 " I say. Jack," he exclaimed, " come 
 upstairs." 
 
 " What for ? " inquired Jack. 
 
 "I've been looldng for you every- 
 where." 
 
 " Who told you I was here ? " 
 
 " Timor said you had been ' torn over,* 
 and had gone tp the library." 
 
 " Well, here I am. I've got to look 
 up Curtius. It's a beastly shame, but 
 it can't be helped. What's the 
 row ? " 
 
 " Funnybird Minor is drowning your 
 white mice in the basin." 
 
 « Is he ? " 
 
 Jack was in a great rage at this news, 
 for he had five white mice in a cage, and 
 he was very fond of them. 
 
 It was maddening to think that 
 Funnybird was drowning them in his 
 absence, and gloating over their dying 
 agonies. 
 
 Leaving the key in the door, he 
 hastened upstairs, accompanied by Owen. 
 
 " I'll give him something," he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " If it was I," said Owen, " he should 
 have what for. He said he was doing it 
 to get square with you." 
 
 " The beast ! " repUed Jack. 
 
 He hurried to his room and caught 
 Funnybird Minor in the act of putting 
 the last hving white mouse in the basin, 
 where the others were floating on their 
 backs. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A MEAN REVENGE. 
 
 The empty cage was on the table, and 
 the last mouse was struggUng in the 
 water. 
 
 Funnybird was grinning at his wicked- 
 ness, and pushing the dying mouse under 
 with his fingers. 
 
 Not hesitating a moment. Jack hit 
 him in the eye and knocked him 
 down. 
 
 " Hullo ! what's that ? " asked Funny- 
 bird. 
 
 " Get up and I'll give you another,"' 
 replied Jack. 
 
 Fimnybird Minor was too much of a 
 coward to stand up and fight, so he laid 
 still on the floor and whimpered. 
 
 " It's a beastly shame to hit a fellow 
 like that unawares," he continued. "You 
 
 might have told me you were going to 
 do it." 
 
 " What do you mean by drowning my 
 mice ? " 
 
 " I — I won't do it again." 
 
 Jack hit him, and Funnybird began 
 to roar for help. 
 
 " Shut up," said Jack, " I don't care if 
 you rouse the whole house. You are 
 always doing something to me and 
 Owen." 
 
 " Because I hate you," rephed Funny- 
 bird. 
 
 " Well, I'll trouble you to let us alone 
 in future. Get out of here, and if you 
 don't buy me five more white mice be- 
 fore dinner-time I'll take it out of 
 you." 
 
38 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT triOJS ; 
 
 Funnybird got up and ran out of the 
 room. 
 
 When on the threshold he put his 
 finger to his nose and " took a sight," 
 after which he put his tongue in his 
 cheek. 
 
 " You're not everybody," he exclaimed. 
 
 Jack shied a dictionary at him, hut 
 missed, and Owen, who was in the pas- 
 sage, received it on his nose. 
 
 " Hold on there, Jack," he cried. " I 
 have some regard for my nasal organ if 
 you have not." 
 
 " Awfully sorr}', dear boy," answered 
 Jack. 
 
 " Try and shy straight next time." 
 
 " I will. Accept my apology; it shan't 
 occui- again. Where's that pumpldn 
 head gone ? " 
 
 Funnybird was still in the passage, 
 and he heard this question. 
 
 " Now you stop that, Dashley ? " he 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " ^^^lat is that ? " 
 
 " I aint going to be pumpkined by 
 you." 
 
 " Go on," exclaimed Jack, making a 
 rush for him, " or it will be the worse for 
 you." 
 
 But Funnybud knew how to use his 
 legs, and showed him a clean pair of 
 heels. 
 
 "Confound the fellow 1" said Owen 
 Tudor ; " he's always worrying you and 
 I. We shall have to make a dead set 
 at him." 
 
 Jack looked regretfully at the dead 
 mice. 
 
 " I'd like to drown him," he replied, 
 " and I would lick him within an inch 
 of his life now only I have no time. j\[r. 
 Dryasdust is very particular about his 
 library door being open, and I have left 
 the key in the lock." 
 
 " So you have ; but I don't suppose 
 anyone will go in," answered Owen. 
 
 "Just chuck those mice out of the 
 window, will you ? " continued Jack, 
 " and I'll go and get the book." 
 
 Owen promised compHance with this 
 request, while Jack ran downstairs to the 
 library, the entrance to which was up a 
 small passage. 
 
 As he reached this he saw the form of 
 Timor, who was hastening along, and 
 who held up one hand to his face as if 
 he wished to escaj)e observation. 
 
 They did not pass one another, as 
 
 Timor went into the pupils' room, but 
 it seemed to Jack as if he had just come 
 out of the library. 
 
 What could lie want there ? 
 
 This was more th.an he could answer, 
 for Timor had of late become quite a 
 man of mystery. 
 
 When he entered the library the door 
 was wide open, and he thought this was 
 strange, for he had left it ajar. 
 
 Somebody had been inside, because 
 there was no wind to blow it open. 
 
 Who could it have been ? 
 
 A strong smell of burning paper as- 
 sailed his nostrils, and looking at the fire 
 which flamed in the grate, he saw a 
 large pile of papers nearly consumed to 
 ashes. 
 
 It had been thrown on the fire in a 
 heap. 
 
 He naturally thought that Mr. Dry- 
 asdust had been in the room during his 
 absence and burnt some papers which 
 were of no use. 
 
 Going to shelf A he searched for the 
 essay on Curtius, which he had no diffi- 
 culty in finding. 
 
 Opening it, he carelessly glanced over 
 its pages. 
 
 While he was thus occupied Mr. Dry- 
 asdust entered the room. 
 
 " Well, Dashley," he exclaimed, "have 
 you found what you want ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir, thank you," replied Jack. 
 
 "Run along then with it to your 
 own room. I have half-an-hour to 
 work in before school, and want to be 
 alone." 
 
 Jack turned towards the door, and his 
 tutor sat down at his desk. 
 
 Suddenly he uttered a loud cry, and 
 the pen which he had taken up dropped 
 fi-om his hand. 
 
 " Great heaven," he exclaimed, " where 
 is my manuscript ? " 
 
 " \Miat, sir ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " My manuscript ! " 
 
 He looked in the firejilace and saw the 
 burning pile of papers, now nearly con- 
 sumed, and rushing to the grate, snatched 
 off those that yet remained unbumt, 
 regardless of his hands, which were 
 badly burnt. 
 
 One glance at the charred and black- 
 ened remains sufficed to show him that 
 the fragment was all that was left of his 
 cherished history of Windsor Castle. 
 
 The great work of his life, over which 
 
ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS, 
 
 39 
 
 he had spent fifteen years, was destroyed 
 in as many minutes. 
 
 Shaking his fist at Jack, he exclaimed — 
 
 "Wretched boy, what have you 
 done ? " 
 
 Jack was astounded. 
 
 " Done, sir ? " he replied. " Nothing," 
 
 " Yes you have." 
 
 "'\\Tiat, sir?" 
 
 " Beciiuse I tore over your theme and 
 gave you a punishment you have burnt 
 my book out of a mean, paltry, and 
 pitiful spirit of revenge." 
 
 At this accusation Jack felt very much 
 hurt, for he was thoroughly incapable 
 of doing such a thing, and knew very 
 well that he was innocent, though he 
 made every allowance for the exaspera- 
 tion of his tutor. 
 
 To see the work of the quarter of a 
 lifetime destroyed was enough to irritate 
 a saint. 
 
 "I declare on my word of honour, 
 sir," he exclaimed, " that I know no 
 more about your manuscript than the 
 man in the moon." 
 
 " How is that, when I keep the door 
 locked and you are the only one who 
 had the key?" 
 
 " I opened the door and ran upstairs 
 because Tudor told me Funnybird JVIinor 
 was drowning my white mice." 
 
 " Can you prove that ? " 
 
 " Easily. Call Tudor and Funnybird 
 before I communicate with them." 
 
 " I must give you the benefit of the 
 doubt if that is true, but you do not 
 know how this cuts me to the heart," 
 said Mr. Dryasdust. "The labour of 
 years is gone. It maddens me." 
 
 He sat down, bent over his desk, 
 buried his face in his hands, and Jack 
 could see the bitter tears trickling 
 through his fingers. 
 
 .Jack was almost as much agitated as 
 his tutor, but he thought he should 
 ea^Uy be able to clear himself. 
 
 Presently Mr. Dryasdust recovered 
 from his momentary depression and 
 rang the bell, which brought up the 
 footman. 
 
 " Call Mr. Funnybird Minor," he said. 
 
 In a few minutes Funnybird appeared, 
 and was asked if Jack had gone upstairs 
 to prevent his drowning some white 
 mice. 
 
 " Yes, sir, he did," replied Funnybird, 
 thinking he was going to be punished. 
 
 " I am sorry I did it, and I will buy him 
 some more." 
 
 " You can go." 
 
 Funnybird went on his way rejoicing, 
 and Mr. Dryasdust again turned to Jaolc. 
 
 "Your statement that you quitted 
 the library leaving the key in the door 
 is so far borne out, and it is not neces- 
 sary to call Tudor, but I cannot help 
 thinking that you burnt my book." 
 
 " Please, sir," replied Jack, " it is not 
 fair to say that." 
 
 " You were smarting under a sense oi 
 oppression when you entered this room, 
 for you had to write out fifty lines and 
 do another theme. I am afraid you are 
 a strange boy. The story you told 
 about Heme the Hunter induces me to 
 think you are making fun of me. I 
 cannot altogether believe you." 
 
 " It is very hard for you to hold such 
 opinions," Jack said. 
 
 " Go away now and leave me alone. 
 I cannot conscientiously punish you, as 
 someone else may have destroyed my 
 manuscript ; but this I can say — I shall 
 never be able to trust you again." 
 
 " Why not, sir ? " 
 
 "Because you are not trustworthy." 
 
 Jack had been about to tell him of 
 the man who visited Timor, but he saw 
 now that it would be useless. 
 
 He was in disgrace, and he would 
 have to wait for the vindication of his 
 character, which could only be brought 
 about by time. 
 
 Leaving the room sadly, he found 
 Timor anxiously awaiting him in the 
 passage. 
 
 " You look as if you had been getting 
 a wigging," he remarked. 
 
 " I have been most unjustlj' accused," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 "Of what?" 
 
 " Some dastardly wretch has burnt up 
 Sir. Dryasdust's manuscript on which h« 
 has so long been engaged." 
 
 " Impossible I " said Timor, _ afi"ecting 
 great surprise." 
 
 " It is a fact." 
 
 " Who does he suspect ? " 
 
 "Me, and I'll swear I never dreamt 
 of such a thing. I wouldn't have douvi 
 it for the world ; I wanted to stand well 
 with my tutor. It's too bad," said Jack, 
 in a tone of vexation. 
 
 " Yes, it is ; but if you didn't do it 
 who do you think" did ? " 
 
40 
 
 THE SCnOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON: 
 
 "I can't tell," Jack replied. « All I 
 know is that Mr. Dryasdust declares he 
 will never again believe anything I s<iy. 
 Oh, if I find out the scoundrel who has 
 got me into this trouble I'll — I'll pul- 
 verise him." 
 
 He ground his heel on the floor to 
 give Timor an idea of the process of 
 pulverisation. 
 
 " Sorry for you," said Timor ; " stroll 
 on. It's nearly school time." 
 
 As he went along he smiled to him- 
 self. 
 
 " I don't think he is very dangerous 
 now," he muttered. " He has fallen 
 very low in Mr. Dryasdust's estimation, 
 and anything he can say about me will 
 not have much weight." 
 
 For the first time since the Russian 
 had made his mysterious descent into 
 the old tree he held up his head and 
 smiled. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 JACK AND HIS FRIENDS GO OUT SHOOTDfO. 
 
 To be suspected of having behaved so 
 badly to his tutor made Jack Dashley 
 feel very miserable. 
 
 But there was no help for it. 
 
 He had to bear the suspicion, and 
 wait until something turned up to clear 
 him. 
 
 He could see that Mr. Dryasdust's 
 manner was altered, and he was always 
 being punished for the slightest fault, 
 which, before the valuable manuscript 
 was burnt, would have been looked over. 
 
 Days glided by, and no trace of the 
 real culprit could be discovered. 
 
 The mystery of Heme's oak remained 
 as deep as ever. 
 
 Jack became reckless, and did not 
 work as hard as he used to. 
 
 He lost his position in the school, 
 and was frequently at the bottom of the 
 class. 
 
 Everyone said that he would be 
 flogged soon, and though this is a fate 
 that frequently overtakes Etonians, all 
 good boys wish to avoid it'. 
 
 Bill Bragg was not a good boy. 
 
 He had been flogged more than once, 
 and did not care for it, and he and Jack 
 became more intimate than ever. 
 
 Owen ^udor did not like this intimacy, 
 but he was so much attached to Jack 
 that he would go wherever he did. 
 
 Jack and Owen were coming out of 
 school one morning after twelve, and 
 when nearing their house they saw an old 
 bat in the road. 
 
 An old hat is very tempting. 
 
 It is almost impossible to resist the 
 temptation of kicking it. 
 
 There is something about an old hat 
 
 in the street which seems to attract the 
 foot. 
 
 " Look at that bat," said Jack. " I'll 
 take a running kick at it. See me give 
 it a rouser." 
 
 " Bet you don't lift it your height," 
 replied Owen. 
 
 " Done with you, for sixpence." 
 
 Jack ran forward, and kicked the hat 
 as hard as he could. 
 
 But it only moved a few inches, and 
 Jack, limping on one leg, began to nurse 
 his right foot. 
 
 " Oh, Lor' ! " he cried. " I've broken 
 my toe, I think." 
 
 " What is it ? " asked Owen. 
 
 " There's something inside it, Owen, I 
 think. Oh, dear, I'd sooner have kicked 
 the side of a house." 
 
 Owen went forward and examined the 
 hat, which was full of bricks. 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " he laughed. " Sold again. 
 It's chock full of bricks. WTiat a lark." 
 
 " I don't see it. If I could only catch 
 the fellow who planted this, I'd give him 
 what for." 
 
 Bill Bragg made his appearance from 
 a doorway, grinning. 
 
 " How are you, Dashley ? " he askec/. 
 
 " All right up to now," answered Jack, 
 "Did you put that ugly old hat in the 
 road ? " 
 
 " Well, I don't mind telling you, I 
 did." 
 
 " Take that, then." 
 
 Jack hit him a smart blow on the 
 nose, which sent him rolling over the 
 hat in the street, and when he got up 
 he looked very foolish. 
 
 " I say," he cried, " that isn't square, 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 41 
 
 I didn't think you'd do a mean thing 
 like that to a friend." 
 
 " I wish you had my toe," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 "It can't be more painful than my 
 nose. Look here, I didn't plant it for 
 you." 
 
 "You were hiding in that doorway 
 and saw me coming — why didn't you 
 holloa out ? " 
 
 " Well, I don't know," said Bill Bragg. 
 " Firstly, I didn't know you were going 
 to kick it, and when I saw you run, it 
 seemed uatm-al to let you do it. The 
 fact is, I put it there for old B. and S." 
 
 "WTio'she?" 
 
 "The coach who lives at Datchet. 
 He's what they call a private tutor. His 
 name's Benjamin Soda. B. Soda, the 
 fellows call him Brandy and Soda. The 
 masters are down on me for not learning 
 quick enough, and I want to come out 
 well in the examinations, so I have got 
 my governor to allow me to go to him 
 in the evenings." 
 
 " That's a good idea. I'd like to do 
 the same," said Jack. 
 
 " So would I," remarked Owen, " for 
 it will be an excuse to get out at night, 
 and we might have some fun if we didn't 
 learn much." 
 
 " Lots of it," rejoined Bill Bragg. 
 " Old Brandy and Soda is a teetotaller, 
 but his wife drinks like a fish, and they 
 quarrel Uke one o'clock. I expect him 
 to call upon me to-day to make arrange- 
 ments, and I fancied he'd kick the hat." 
 
 " I don't believe you care who kicks 
 it so long as somebody does," said Jack. 
 
 " Well, I don't care much, only I'm 
 sorry you did it.'' 
 
 " Are you 'i " 
 
 " Honour bright, I am." 
 
 " Then give me your fist. I'm sorry 
 I hit you that smeller. Shake hands." 
 
 They grasped each other's hands 
 warmly. 
 
 "Here's Funnybird Minor coming. 
 Dodge into the doorway," exclaimed Bill 
 Bragg. " I'd like to see that youngster 
 sucked in." 
 
 " Come on. I've got my squiit full 
 of water," replied Jack. 
 
 " And I've got my pea-shooter," said 
 Owen. " We'll warm him." 
 
 The hat was still standing erect, and 
 looking very inviting for a kick. 
 
 In an instant the boys had hidden j 
 
 themselves in the friendly doorway, and 
 Funnybird approached the tempting 
 object. 
 
 He looked up at Owen Tudor's win- 
 dow, which was open. 
 
 " Ba-a-a ! ma-a-a ! " he cried. 
 
 " He's doing the goat to rile me," 
 remarked Owen. " Oh, the beast ! " 
 
 " Hold on a bit ; you'll have your 
 revenge before long," replied Jack. 
 
 Funnybird ISlinor's eyes now fell upon 
 the hat. 
 
 " Ha ! " he said, " a hat. See me send 
 it flying. "WTiat a pity I won't." 
 
 He too indulged in a running kick, 
 and the hat rolled lazily a few paces, 
 while Funnybird rolled on his back, 
 nursing his toe as Jack had done and 
 uttering deep groans. 
 
 " My leg's broken," he whined. " I 
 know it is. Confound the hat. What's 
 in it ? " 
 
 He got up and was about to look in- 
 side when he received the contents of 
 Jack's squirt in his ear, and was nicely 
 peppered with peas from Owen's shooter, 
 while Bill Bragg laughed loudly. 
 
 " Go on, you howling Zulus ! " he ex- 
 claimed. " I've a good mind to tell my 
 brother." 
 
 "Don't spoil a good mind; do it," 
 answered Jack. 
 
 Funnybird received another broadside 
 from the pea-shooter, and seeing Jack 
 refilling his squirt at a puddle of dirty 
 water, he took to his heels. 
 
 " Set it again," said Bragg. 
 
 Jack replaced the hat in the perpen- 
 dicular from the horizontal, and again 
 the boys waited. 
 
 This time a middle-aged man came 
 along with a quick step. 
 
 It was Mr. Benjamin Soda, the 
 " coach " of whom Bragg had spoken. 
 
 \Mien he saw the hat he chuckled 
 softly to himself, as if the idea pleased 
 him highly. 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " he laughed, adding, 
 " Playful youths ; someone has cast his 
 discarded head gear into the street. It 
 looks bad. I will remove it to the gutter. 
 I am carried back to the days of my boy- 
 hood, when I played the noble game of 
 football. There wasn't a better kicker- 
 ofif than I was. This is how we used to 
 do it." 
 
 He stepped back a few paces and ran 
 in at the hat, the result being most dis- 
 
42 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 astrous, for he fell down in the road, and 
 all his interest seemed instantly to centre 
 in his big toe. 
 
 " Oil, CiB?ar ! " he cried, " I'm lamed 
 for life. Oh, Jerusalem the Golden — 
 hallelujah ! I won't swear. Blessed are 
 the meelc in spirit ! Jehoshaphat ! Oh, 
 the pain ! It is good for us to suffer. 
 We are bom to it as the sparks fly up- 
 wards. Oh, my toe — t-o-e — toe ! I wish 
 I could see the gentle youths who pre- 
 pared this infernal machine. Ah ! there 
 they are hiding in the doorway, three of 
 them." 
 
 Limping up to the conspirators, who 
 were choking with laughter, he made a 
 grimace and grinned a ghastly grin. 
 
 " To which of you young gentlemen 
 am I indebted for the Httle entertain- 
 ment which has just been afforded me ? " 
 he demanded. 
 
 " Not us, sir," replied Jack. " It was 
 that other boy who has just run up the 
 street." 
 
 "Indeed! Do you consider telling 
 falsehoods a necessary part of your 
 education ? " 
 
 " By no means, sir." 
 
 " And you mean to tell me that you 
 did not place that — that infernal machine 
 in the middle of the road ? " 
 
 " If we did," said Owen, " you were 
 not obliged to kiclt it." 
 
 " Your remark is logical, but I shall 
 require each of you to write out and 
 bring me fifty Unes of Virgil to-morrow 
 evening." 
 
 " You can't give punishments, for you 
 are not a master," exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " Perfectly correct ; yet I can report 
 you to your tutor, and at my request he 
 will punish you more severely than I 
 have done." 
 
 " I'm going to be one of your private 
 tutors, sir," said Bragg, "and these 
 friends of mine also want to join the 
 class, so you will let us off this time, 
 won't you ? " 
 
 " Ah, that alters the case." 
 
 Bragg introduced Dashley and Tudor, 
 who arranged to come twice a week to 
 his house, and he remitted the " poena," 
 as the Eton boys call a punishment. 
 
 When he was gone they sauntered up 
 college past the timbrels and up the 
 Slough Koad. 
 
 " I knew I'd get over old B. and S.," 
 said Bragg ; " he's not a bw^ sort. But 
 
 wliat do you fellows sa}' to an hour or 
 two's shooting ? " 
 
 " Shooting ! " echoed Jack and Owen 
 in a breath, " that would be spiff. How 
 can you arrange it ? " 
 
 " I have Jirranged it. Slap-bang and 
 all alive ! You see I have made the 
 acquaintance of Mr. Splawger, of Chal- 
 vey Farm, where there are plenty of 
 rabbits, and all we have to do is to go to 
 the farmhouse, where there are three 
 guns and powder and shot awaiting 
 us." 
 
 "Come on, then," said Jack. "Can 
 you shoot. Bill ? " 
 
 "I should rather think so. Why, in 
 one day at my father's place I killed to 
 my own gun one hundred and fifty rab- 
 bits, sixty brace of pheasants, sixty brace 
 of partridges, twenty woodcock, and ten 
 hares. The birds always fly away when 
 they see me coming." 
 
 " That be blowed for a yam." 
 
 " It's true, as sure as I'm slap-bang 
 and all aUve ! " 
 
 They crossed the football-field, jumped 
 over Chalvey brook, and cut across the 
 country to the fiirmhouse, finding the 
 farmer's wife at home. 
 
 " Guv'nor out, ma'am ? " asked Bragg. 
 " You remember me ? I was here a day 
 or two ago." 
 
 The woman made a profound curtsey. 
 
 " Yes, my lord," she resijonded. hum- 
 bly. " I hope your lordship's healtli is 
 good. The guns are all ready in the 
 parlour. Please help yourself." 
 
 " Thank you, Mrs. Splawger. When 
 do you expect the old man in ? " 
 
 "Presently, my lord. He's around 
 the firm." 
 
 " Just tell him to get a snack readv 
 for us. Nothing extravagant you know, 
 bread and cheese and beer. Slap-bang 
 and >i\\ alive ! " 
 
 " ""'Vith pleasure, my lord," repUed the 
 farm-ir's wife, with the same respectful 
 degr' e of attention. 
 
 " We are only going out for an hour 
 to kill a few rabbits and keep our hands 
 in. Ta, ta! be good to yourself, old 
 lady." 
 
 Kissing the tips of his fingers to her 
 in a familiar way, the iiTepressible Bragg 
 led his companions into the parlour, 
 where tliey found three guns. 
 
 Each took one, as well as a flask of 
 powder, another of shot, a box nf caps. 
 
OK, THE ADVENTllUES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 43 
 
 and some wads, which the farmer had 
 carefully punched for them. 
 
 " Why did the woman call you ' my 
 lord ? '" inquired Jack. 
 
 "Oh, I don't know," answered Bill 
 Bragg, in some confusion. " I'm often 
 taken for a member of the peerage." 
 
 " Indeed ! " 
 
 " Oh, yes ; fact, I assure you. It's a 
 way I've got, I suppose. Slap-bang and 
 all ali\e ! Come on, step out lively." 
 
 Jack fancied that like all Bragg's facts 
 this ought to be taken with a grain of 
 salt, but he made no observation. 
 
 They salUed forth and walked along 
 the side of a hedge in search of rabbits, 
 not seeing any for the simple reason 
 that there were none on the estate. 
 
 A few unsuspecting sparrows and an 
 occasional lark perched on the hedge 
 and on the branches of the trees, but 
 Jack and Owen were too good sportsmen 
 to go in for such small game. 
 
 *' Hang it all ! " exclaimed Bragg, " I 
 never saw such shooting as this ; there 
 isn't a bit of fur or feather in the place. 
 I shall blaze away at a sparrow." 
 
 "That isn't good enough for me," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 " Nor me," said Owen. " I haven't 
 come to that yet." 
 
 A sparrow came within a few yards of 
 him and Bragg let fly, missing the bird, 
 which was not surprising, as he carefully 
 shut his eyes before he pulled the 
 trigger. 
 
 But what did surprise him was that 
 he was thrown violently on his back. 
 
 " Halloa ! where are you going to ? " 
 asked Jack. 
 
 "Blessed if I know. Hang the old 
 rusty thing. I believe I must have put 
 in a double charge of powder to make it 
 kick so. Never mind, I'll load up agaiu. 
 AMiere's the bird ? I know I hit him, 
 for I saw the feathers fly." 
 
 " It flew away to order it's coffin for a 
 futui-e occasion," Jack replied, laughing. 
 
 '• Hem ! that's funny, but it don't 
 matter. The best shots will miss some- 
 times. This gun carries high and I'm 
 not in form to-day. Try again's my 
 motto. Skip-bang and all alive ! " 
 
 At this moment a hare started from 
 the furze. 
 
 Jack saw it going across the meadow, 
 and raised his gun, fired, and killed 
 it. 
 
 " Ha, well done ! " cried Bragg. " An 
 easy shot, though. ' Tlie merry brown 
 hare came leaping,' eh ? Just like my 
 luck. Pity I wasn't loaded." 
 
 They picked up the hare and strolled 
 on, Bragg firing away at the sparrows 
 and always missing them, much to his 
 disgust. 
 
 " There's a cow over there," suggested 
 Jack. 
 
 " And a hayrick in the corner," said 
 Owen. 
 
 " Come, I say, you fellows oughtn't to 
 chaff a chap," replied Bragg. "I've 
 given you some shooting, and it isn't 
 kind to say the least of it." 
 
 "I thought you were such a dead 
 shot." 
 
 " So I am. Look at that old crow on 
 the tree. See me pot him." 
 
 Bragg took a good and steady aim at 
 the crow, who sat still and blinked at 
 him with supreme contempt. 
 
 Bang! 
 
 There was a cry from the other side 
 of the hedge. 
 
 The bird flew away and a man popped 
 up like a jack-in-the-box. 
 
 He was a fanii labourer, and he rubbed 
 his corduroy trousers in an energetic 
 manner, as if he suffered from some 
 local irritation. 
 
 " Coom, young measter," he exclaimed 
 in a broad Berkshire dialect, " dang my 
 buttons but it's too bad, as a chap can't 
 eat his bit o' bread and bacon w'out 
 being shot." 
 
 " Did I really hit you ? " asked Bragg, 
 as if he was rather proud of the achieve- 
 ment than otherwise. 
 
 " Did you hit Oi ? \Miy I be shot i' 
 the back." 
 
 " Dear me, that's good. It seems as 
 if I was impro\dng." 
 
 He turned to his companions to seek 
 for applause. 
 
 " I saw the beggar behind the hedge, 
 and not considering a crow worth powder 
 and shot, I determined to wake him up. 
 I'm a wonderful shot when I like," he 
 explained. 
 
 " So it seems," rejilied Jack, dryly. 
 
 The countryman left ofl' rubbing, and 
 pushed his way through a gap in the 
 
 " Ain't you going to give Oi sum- 
 mat ? " he asked. 
 
 "Well, I don't know about that." 
 
44 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 answered Bragg, who was as mean as he 
 was boastful 
 
 " Then Oi ha' your gun, sure as eggs 
 is eggs.'l 
 
 At this threat Bragg put his hands in 
 his pockets. 
 
 " By Jove ! " he said ; "just like me. 
 Came out without any money. Got lots 
 of tin in my bureau. Just tip the clod 
 half-a-quid for me, Dashley. I'll make 
 it all right." 
 
 Jack thought the man deserved com- 
 pensation, and willingly gave him half- 
 a-sovereign. 
 
 Before he handed it over he put it to 
 his lips. 
 
 " '^Tiat did you do that for ? " queried 
 Bragg. 
 
 " Oh, I was only kissing it good-bye 
 before parting," answered Jack. 
 
 " You think I won't pay you again ? " 
 
 " Something of that sort." 
 
 " By Jove ! we agree for once, for I'm 
 of the same opinion," laughed Bragg, 
 whose impudence was charming. 
 
 The labourer was perfectly satisfied 
 with the present he had received, for it 
 amounted to a week's wages. 
 
 " Good-day, gentlemen," he said, 
 " and thankee for me." 
 
 He scrambled through the hedge, and 
 re-commenced the rubbing process. 
 
 " Rattling good pot that," remarked 
 Owen. " What is the next article ? " 
 
 They had aj^proaehed a small cottage, 
 and in a yard attached to it were a 
 quantity of game fowls. 
 
 " Why," replied Bragg, " there is the 
 next thing right before your eyes — slap- 
 bang and all alive. Pheasants, my dear 
 boy, pheasants." 
 
 Owen was about to ask him how he 
 could mistake barn-door fowls for phea- 
 sants, but Jack touched him on the 
 arm. 
 
 " Let the fool alone," he whispered. 
 
 " Hush ! " said Bragg. " I found 
 these — my first shot. Keep quiet." 
 
 He crawled cautiously up to the 
 fowls, as if he was stalking a herd of 
 deer, and when he got close to, he fired, 
 giving them both barrels. 
 
 The consequence was disastrous to the 
 chickens, for as they were all in a cluster, 
 he killed half-a-dozen and wounded as 
 many more. 
 
 The cock crowed, the hens chuckled, 
 and the woman who owned the cottage 
 
 rushed out, followed by half-a-dozen 
 children. 
 
 " Stand back, my good woman," ex- 
 claimed Bragg, who advanced to pick up 
 tiie game ; " those are mine." 
 
 " Yes ; when you pay for them," she 
 replied. 
 
 " Game is never paid for. I am 
 shooting over this farm, and I have the 
 permission of Farmer Splawger." 
 
 "What has he got to do with my 
 fowls ? " 
 
 " Fowls ? " repeated Bragg, his gun 
 dropping as he began to see that he had 
 made a mistake. " Why I thought 
 they were pheasants. If I have com- 
 mitted an error, and ma<le a beefsteak 
 — mistake, I mean— I will compensate 
 you. Estimate your damage, and come 
 to Eton. Ask for Mr. Bragg. Every- 
 one knows me." 
 
 " My husband will see me righted." 
 
 " Excellent man ; I should like to 
 make his acquaintance. Slap-bang and 
 all alive." 
 
 " I'll slap-bang you if you don't pay 
 up, you conceited, ignorant, dirty little 
 cheat ! " cried the poor woman ; and 
 seizing a clothes prop, she dashed 
 towards him, flourishing it fiercely above 
 her head. 
 
 Bragg sprang back. 
 
 " I don't like to show the white 
 feather," he said ; " but she is a hot 
 member, and inclined to make it warm 
 for me, so I think we'd better cut it." 
 
 He ran and the others followed him. 
 
 They soon distanced the woman, whose 
 angry voice rang in their ears. 
 
 "Saved!" cried Bragg. "I wasn't 
 afraid of her, you know, but a row with 
 a woman is always better avoided." 
 
 " Pity you didn't carry off your phea- 
 sants," remarked Jack. 
 
 " Deuce take it," replied Bragg, " I 
 can't make out how I fell into that error. 
 They looked for all the world like phea- 
 sants. Hold on, there's a hare." 
 
 A fine hare started as he spoke almost 
 under his feet, and ran straight in the 
 direction of a cow whioh was placidly 
 grazing in the field. 
 
 " I'll soon cook his goose. No trouble 
 in settling his hash," continued Bill. 
 
 He fired, and to his astonishment the 
 hare continued his wild career, until 
 stopped by Owen, who shot it at the 
 distance, but the cow uttered a deep 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 lowing noise, erected her tail, and started 
 off like a circus horse. 
 
 " What did you do that for ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " WTiat ? " replied Owen. 
 
 "Shoot the cow. I killed the hare, 
 and you, you lubber, hit the poor cow. 
 Look how she's going on." 
 
 Owen was indignant at this assertion, 
 which he knew to be untrue, and he felt 
 angry at Bill's unblushing etfrontery. 
 
 " SVell," he answered, " you have got 
 cheek." 
 
 " I call it a whole face," said Jack. 
 
 " Come, come," exclaimed Bragg. 
 " You did shoot the cow, old boy, and 
 you know it, but I won't be hard on 
 you." 
 
 " ^Miat do you mean ? " 
 
 " I won't tell the fellows. Ha, ha ! 
 fancy shooting at a hare and hittiijg an 
 old cow! Best joke I ever heard of, 
 'pon my word." 
 
 " I didn't do it." 
 
 " Oh, yes you did. Accidents will 
 happen in the best regulated families. 
 Ha, ha ! " 
 
 " You know you did it yourself," said 
 Owen. 
 
 " All right, say it was me ; it pleases 
 you and don't hurt me. Sorry for the 
 cow, though. Cattle in these parts 
 ought to have their lives insured when 
 you are around shooting. IMake haste 
 back to the form. I'm jieckisln and 
 30uld pitch into the lunch. We've done 
 fnough for one day." 
 
 " So I should think. Bragg, you shot 
 a man, peppered a cow, and slaughtered 
 a lot of barn-door fowls. There is only 
 one thing that remains for you to do, 
 and that is shoot yourself; if you did, 
 there'd be one fool less in the world." 
 
 Bragg had walked on ahead and pre- 
 tended not to hear these remarks. 
 
 "Don't get excited, Owen," said 
 Jack. 
 
 " I can't help it, he aggravates me so. 
 Did I shoot that cow ? " 
 
 " He says so." 
 
 " But you know jolly well I didn't." 
 
 " Of course I do ; that's right enough. 
 Pick up the hare and come on," returned 
 Jack. 
 
 Owen Tudor smothered his wrath, 
 took up the hare, and with Jack walked 
 after Bragg, whom they soon over- 
 took. 
 
 His serenity was not in the least dis- 
 turbed by what had occurred, and ho 
 was smiling sweetly like a child at 
 play. 
 
 " What a ^lay we're having," he re- 
 marked. "This is what I like — beau- 
 tiful weather, splendid sport, and good 
 company. By the way, Tudor, I'll trouble 
 you for my hare." 
 
 " Which one 'i " 
 
 " The one I shot just now ; you have 
 been kind enough to pick it up for me, 
 I see. I shall make it a present to my 
 tutor, and he'll invite me to supper, 
 bottle of wine, and all that sort of 
 thing, you know. Slap-bang and all 
 alive ! " 
 
 " Where will you have it ? " asked 
 Owen, in whose eyes gleamed a dangerous 
 fire. 
 
 " I think I'll carry it in my hand." 
 
 Owen raised the hare and hit him over 
 the head with it in a way which brought 
 him on his knees. 
 
 Recovering himself, he wiped some 
 splashes of blood from his face and 
 said — 
 
 " None of your larks, now, or it will 
 be the worse for you." 
 
 " I'm not larking." 
 
 " Yes you are ; I know you. If you 
 wanted the hare, why didn't you say so ? 
 I'd have made you a jiresent of it. Keep 
 it, but don't play so roughly. I hate 
 larking Uke a couple of Sunday cads out 
 for a holiday." 
 
 Owen made no answer, and as they 
 were near the fai-mhouse they quickened 
 their pace. 
 
 The farmer was at the door, and two 
 labouring men were talking to him. 
 
 He was a bluff, heart}' specimen of the 
 representatives of the English agricul- 
 tiural interest, but there was a cloud upon 
 his brow. 
 
 " Ah, Splawger," exclaimed Bragg, 
 genially. " Glad to see you, old boy. 
 How's com, and what's the price of tur- 
 nips ? " 
 
 " Corn is down, my lord, but tunnats 
 is up," answered the farmer. " But 
 look here, they tell me you've shot one 
 of my men and played old Harry with a 
 cow." 
 
 "That's all right. I'll compensate 
 you. Send in your bill. Slap-bang and 
 all alive ! " 
 
 The farmer loolcerl dubiously at him. 
 
46 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OP JACK AT ETOW ; 
 
 CHAl'TER X. 
 
 THE GIPSYS WARNING. 
 
 " Where is the lunch, Splawger ? " asked 
 Bragg. " We are as hungry as hunters, 
 and just in the condition to do justice to 
 it. None of your namby-pamby appe- 
 tites, you know. Sohd on the bread-and- 
 cheese question." 
 
 " Step inside, my lord," repUed the 
 farmer. 
 
 They entered the parlour, where 
 everything was laid out uicely and 
 temptingly. 
 
 The cheese was in splendid cut, the 
 celery white, the watercresses from Salt 
 Hill brown and crisp, the ale amber- 
 coloured and full of life. 
 
 "Now, boys," said Bragg, "fall to. 
 I'm treating. (Slap-bang and all alive ! " 
 
 '■ I'll be with you du-ectly," replied 
 Jack, leaving Owen and Bragg to eat the 
 lunch. 
 
 He was strack by the way in which 
 the farmer and his wife persistently 
 called Bill " my lord," and he could not 
 help thinking that he was up to some 
 trick or another. 
 
 If he was peipetrating a fraud, Jack 
 was too much of a gentleman to wish to 
 be any party to it. 
 
 So he determined to speak to the 
 farmer and see how affairs really stood. 
 
 Going up to the man, who was in his 
 stock-yard examining the wounded cow 
 which had just been brought in, he 
 touched him on the arm. 
 
 "Can I speak a word to you?" he 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " Certainly, sir ; a dozen if \'ou like," 
 replied Mr. Splawger. 
 
 " It is evident to me," continued Jack. 
 " that you are a good fellow, and I don't 
 want to see you badly treated. It may 
 be all right, but my friend has a faculty 
 for getting into scrapes, and " 
 
 " Perhaps he didn't mean it," inter- 
 rupted the farmer, " and to tell you the 
 honest truth I don't know which of you 
 shot the cow, but here she is, and I'll 
 have to kill her. Of course the meat's 
 good and I can sell the carcase, but there 
 is all the difference between dead meat 
 and a cow in full milk." 
 
 « That is true." 
 
 " His lordship will have to pay for it," 
 said the fanner. 
 
 " Why do you will him his lordship?" 
 asked Jack. " His name is Bill Bragg." 
 
 The farmer jumped half a foot in the 
 air. 
 
 "What?" he cried. "Then he's 
 bested me." 
 
 •' Possibly ; but don't get excited. I 
 came outside on purpose to arrange this 
 matter, for I guessed there was some- 
 thing wrong." 
 
 " Look here, sir," exclaimed the far- 
 mer. " He came to me a few days ago, 
 and stating he was Lord Coventry, asked 
 for a few hours' shooting whenever he 
 required it. He said money was no 
 object, and hang the expense. He should 
 bring a few friends and want a little re- 
 freshment. I was to tind the guns and 
 all that. Now, really, ain't he Lord 
 Coventry ? " 
 
 " No more than I am." 
 
 " Then he's a fraud, and if I can't get 
 my monej' I'll tan his hide." 
 
 The fanner grew greatly excited, and 
 moved a switch he carried in his hand 
 ominously through the air. 
 
 This boded no good to Bragg. 
 
 " Just listen to me," said Jack. " My 
 name is Dashley, and I am responsible. 
 Your claim against Bragg is for this day 
 only ? " 
 
 " That's all, and I shall want a fi'-pun' 
 note." 
 
 " Five pounds. Very well. You shall 
 have it. I hap^x^u to have that sum in 
 my pocket, for my people sent me some 
 money yesterday. Here it is. That will 
 square everything." 
 
 " Yes ; you've paid the man you shot, 
 and this will square the cow and the 
 rest of it." 
 
 The farmer took the money, which 
 Jack's father had sent him to buy sonle 
 pictures to adorn the walls of his 
 room. 
 
 He wanted the pictures very much, 
 but he prefen-ed to wait a little while 
 longer for them, thinking it was honour- 
 able to settle with the farmer. 
 
 A man is known by his companions, 
 
OH, THE ADVEKTUUKS OF TWO COLLEGE CIlUMS. 
 
 47 
 
 and you caimot touch pitch without 
 being defiled. 
 
 These are two very ancient but very 
 true proverbs. 
 
 " Now," said Jack, " you and I are 
 friends. Will you do me a good 
 turn?" 
 
 " Yes, sir. \Miat do you want me to 
 do ? " answered the fanner. 
 
 "Just go to Mr. Bragg, and expose 
 him before me." 
 
 The farmer clapped his hands. 
 
 " I'll do it, sir," he said. " Blessed if 
 I don't." 
 
 Jack went back to the parlour, and 
 saw Owen Tudor and Bragg enjoying 
 themselves over the lunch. 
 
 " Ah," said Bragg, " here you are, 
 Jack ! Come and enjoy yourself. We 
 ha\e been making a good lunch while 
 you were away. I'm always the same ; 
 slap-bang and all alive." 
 
 " Thank you, I'm not hungry," replied 
 Jack. " I'll wait till I get home." 
 
 " Oh, have something to eat. Don't 
 be a ben ; I always thought you were a 
 cock bird." 
 
 " Excuse me, this time," said Jack. 
 
 Ml'. Splawger came in and struck the 
 table with a stick which he held in his 
 hand. 
 
 "Now, my lord," he exclaimed. ""\Miat 
 I want to kuow is, are you going to pay 
 my bill ? " 
 
 "\Vhen it is presented," replied Bragg. 
 " Have you got it with you ? " 
 
 " Here it is," said the farmer, exhibit- 
 ing a sheet of foolscap. 
 
 Bragg took it and looked at it care- 
 fully as if he was adding up the items. 
 
 " Very good, Splawger," he exclaimed. 
 " It shall be attended to." 
 
 " I want it attended to immediately." 
 
 "All right. Immediately, if not 
 sooner," answered Bragg with a smile. 
 " You know me." 
 
 " No I don't." 
 
 " Oh yes, you do, Splawger. Don't 
 be in a hurry for your money. Gentle- 
 men never pay down on the nail. Wait 
 a little while and you can charge five 
 per cent, interest, like the West-end 
 tradesmen." 
 
 " I don't know nothin' about West- 
 end tradesmen." 
 
 " Don't you ? That's unfortunate for 
 you ; perhaps you belong to a co-operar- 
 tivi,' btoie?" 
 
 "No I don't either, and I want my 
 bill settled." 
 
 "You resemble a good many other 
 people I know," said Bragg. 
 
 " Will you pa}' ? " 
 
 "Not to-day, baker — I mean farmer. 
 You can send in your account, or you 
 can county comt me. I'm slap-bang 
 and all aUve." 
 
 " You may be that, but are you Lord 
 Coventry ? " asked the farmer. 
 
 At this question Bill Bragg seemed to 
 lose all his confidence ; he looked at 
 Owen and he looked at Jack. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " he asked. 
 " Wlio said I was Lord Coventry ? " 
 
 " Why, you did." 
 
 " Never," replied Bragg. " And I'll 
 defy you to prove it. I said I was a 
 friend of Lord Coventry's, came from 
 the same county as he did and lived in 
 the same house with him, but I never 
 told you I was Lord Coventry." 
 
 The farmer flourished his bill in his 
 face. 
 
 " Pay this," he said. " I want the 
 money, and I mean to have it ! " 
 
 " I can't at this moment. My name 
 is Bragg, everyone knows me. Send it 
 to the college in the usual course, and I 
 will meet the obligation like an honour- 
 able man." 
 
 " That's what you say ! " 
 
 " I mean what I say," cried Bragg, 
 " and I am not in the habit of being 
 insulted by common people like you." 
 
 " Call me common people ? " cried 
 the farmer. 
 
 " Well, old boy, you are but a noun 
 of multitude, and therefore I don't think 
 I could plmal you." 
 
 " Get out of my place." 
 
 " I will as soon as I have finished 
 this cheese," said Bragg. " It is not 
 very good. I wonder you don't make 
 butter." 
 
 Sir-. Splawger was a man of good 
 temper, but he could not stand too 
 much impudence and he took Bragg by 
 the collar. 
 
 " Come oot," he exclaimed. 
 
 "What are you going to do with me ?" 
 asked Bragg. " Remember, if you have 
 your remedy against me for false pre- 
 tences, I have mine for assault, if you 
 hurt me." 
 
 " I'll chance it," replied the farmer. 
 
 He dragged him out of the room into 
 
48 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OP JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 the yard, and diopped him into an empty 
 pigstye. 
 
 " You dare to get out of that until I 
 tell yon," said the farmer, " and I'll kick 
 you within an inch of your life." 
 
 "Excellent joke," replied Bragg, sit- 
 ting down on the straw. " Splawger, 
 you are like Yorick, a man of infinite 
 jest and humour. I shouldn't wonder 
 if you had often set the table in a roar." 
 
 " I ain't no Yorick," said the farmer, 
 " I'm Splawger, that's my name." 
 
 " Bless you, old boy," answered Bragg. 
 " You're a good sort and I like you." 
 
 " That's more than I do you." 
 
 " Simply because you don't know me. 
 Give me your hand and help me out of 
 this. I'm not a prize pig, and this isn't 
 the cattle show, you know." 
 
 " Your friends may help you if they 
 like ; I shan't," replied the farmer. 
 
 He walked awa^^, and as soon as his 
 stalwart form was out of sight, Bill 
 Bragg looked over the side of the stye. 
 
 *' Jack ! Owen ! " he exclaimed. " Is 
 old pumpkin head gone ? " 
 
 " Yes, he's mizzled," answered Jack. 
 
 " Then I'll come out." 
 
 He jumped over the edge of the pig- 
 stye and began to laugh. 
 
 " I'll go home. I've had enough of 
 farms," he exclaimed. " Still we had 
 our fun. I shall pay him some day." 
 
 "I have paid him already. So you 
 owe it to me," remarked Jack. 
 
 "Really, that is very kind of you. 
 I'll give you a cheque on a mud bank." 
 
 " Don't chaff," replied Jack. " I'm 
 not in a hurry for the money, but I 
 expect you to pay me as soon as you 
 can." 
 
 " Of course I will." 
 
 Bill Bragg was perfectly happy. He 
 had got out of the scrape much bet t er 
 than he had expecttd, and he never 
 worried himself much about the future, 
 the present was all that concerned him. 
 
 They returned to college, and reached 
 their house about a quarter of an hour 
 before dinner .and went to their rooms. 
 
 Owen ran downstairs to get a book he 
 had left in the pupils-room, and was talk- 
 ing to some fellows who were lounging 
 in the passage. 
 
 While he was thus engaged a pretty 
 little girl, wearing a red cloak, came in 
 at the door and looked timidly around 
 her. 
 
 " "WTiat do you want, miss ? " asked 
 Owen. 
 
 " Jack of Eton," she replied. 
 
 "What Jack is that? There are so 
 man^' Jacks in the world." 
 
 " I don't know, except that he is tell 
 and handsome." 
 
 " That is characteristic of all Etonians, 
 if I may be accepted as a specimen," 
 exclaimed Owen. " But I think I know 
 who you mean." 
 
 " Oh yes, you were with him when he 
 saved me from the stag. You are his 
 friend ; I remember you now." 
 
 " And you are Effie, the gipsy girl. 
 Come with me, Effie." 
 
 Little Efhe followed Owen up the 
 stairs amid the comments of the boys. 
 
 "Deuced pretty girl," said one. 
 
 " Neat little filly," said another. 
 
 " Wonder what she can want with 
 Dashley ? " exclaimed a third. 
 
 ISIeanwhile Efifie was conducted to 
 Jack's room, and it may be easily sup- 
 posed that he was greatly suprised at 
 seeing her. 
 
 "You, EfSe?" he cried. "What 
 brings you here ? " 
 
 " Love of you," she replied simply. 
 " I feel as if I was your sister." 
 
 " You shall be my sister, and if I am 
 your brother there is no harm in me 
 kissing you is there, dear ? " 
 
 . " No ; you can Wss me if you like," 
 said the gip.'sy girl. 
 
 She innocently held up her head and 
 let him impress a tender caress on her 
 baby-like face. 
 
 " Shut the door, Owen," exclaimed 
 Jack, " and we will hear what Effie has 
 come to tell us." 
 
 " It's a great secret, and I cannot tell 
 you all," she observed. 
 
 " Never mind Owen. He is my chum, 
 and I keep nothing from him." 
 
 "Very well, Jack of Eton," answered 
 Effie. You must not come to the forest 
 any more, no matter who asks you." 
 
 " Why is that." 
 
 " I cannot tell you, because I should 
 be punished. If Ivan knew I had come 
 here I think he would kill me." 
 
 " Would he ? I should like to see 
 him," said Jack indignantly. 
 
 "Ah, you don't know him. He is 
 awful when you put him out. But 
 promise me you wiU not go to the 
 forest. Harm will come of it if you do." 
 
 Are you rending "Sal, the Young Harlequin," in the " Boj/a' Comic 
 Journal?" Every Tuesday, One Penny. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 51 
 
 " All right, my little fairy," said Jack, 
 " ni promise." 
 
 She seemed relieved at this com- 
 pliance with her wish and turned to go, 
 
 " I must go now," she exclaimed. " I 
 had such trouble to find you. I went to 
 several houses and they all laughed at 
 me when I asked for Jack of Eton — isn't 
 that your name ? " 
 
 " It's the name you've given me, 
 Effie, but my reaJ name is Jack 
 Dashley." 
 
 " Well, I shall always call you Jack of 
 Eton, and some day we shall meet again ; 
 but I shall not see you for a long time." 
 
 " Why not ? " 
 
 She was about to reply when the door 
 was violently opened, and Timor ap- 
 peared on the threshold. 
 
 EflBe looked very much alarmed at 
 seeing him. 
 
 "Oh dear!" she cried. "Does he 
 live here ? " 
 
 " Yes," replied Jack. 
 
 " He will tell Ivan, and they will whip 
 me. If I had known that I would not 
 have come ; and yet," she added, correct- 
 ing herself, " I would, because it was for 
 your sake. Jack of Eton." 
 
 Timor sprang forward angrily, and, 
 seizing her by the arm, spoke to her in 
 Kussian in an excited manner, she 
 answering him in the same language. 
 
 " Talk EngUsh," exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " I shall talk what I please, without 
 asking you," replied Timor. 
 
 " No you won't ; get out of my room, 
 you rascally half-bred gipsy," cried Jack. 
 
 Timor took Effie to the door and 
 said — 
 
 " Go back at once, and never dare to 
 come here again." 
 
 Ciisting a warning look at Jack, the 
 little girl skipped away, though the 
 tears stood in her eyes, for Timor had 
 evidently said something to her which 
 had frightened her. 
 
 " Owen," exclaimed Jack, " run after 
 Effie and see her clear of the college, the 
 boys may chaff or worry her in some 
 way." 
 
 Owen started after her, leaving Dash- 
 ley and Timor face to face. 
 
 " 'WTiat did that girl want here ? " 
 asked Timor. 
 
 "That's my business and hers. I 
 certainly shan't think of telling yon," 
 *eplied Jack. 
 
 " I'll make you." 
 
 " No you won't. You are bigger than 
 me, but I'll tell all the fellows about 
 your uncle the gipsy, and the t\ro 
 fellows I saw in the yard the otliet 
 night." 
 
 " A lot of good that will do yon," 
 replied Timor. 
 
 " I don't care what good it will do 
 me, but I'll make a wager it won't do 
 you much." 
 
 " Don't be cheeky." 
 
 " Keep away from me, that's aU. U 
 hate a Russian, and a gipsy is worse. 
 Gro and buy a tent and live out in the 
 fields." 
 
 At this taunt Timor lost his temper, 
 and he dealt Jack a box on the ear which 
 knocked him up against the wall. 
 
 Jack returned the blow, and a fight 
 began in which weight would tell, and, 
 as a matter of course, Jack got the worst 
 of it, though he punished his opponent 
 considerably. 
 
 While the contest was going on 
 Sutherland came into the room, having 
 heard the noise of the conflict from the 
 outside. 
 
 "Stop this!" he cried. "Do yoO 
 hear me, Timor ? " 
 
 The Russian had got Jack down in a 
 corner, and was punching away at him 
 as if he had been a sack of flour. 
 
 It was very lucky that Sutherland 
 appeared on the scene when he did, 
 for it really looked as if Timor would 
 have killed him. 
 
 His temper had completely mastered 
 him, and he did not seem to have the 
 shghtest control left. 
 
 " I'll kill him, the hound I " cried 
 Timor. 
 
 Sutherland was more powerful than 
 the Russian, and he seized him by the 
 collar, throwing him on his back. 
 
 Jack was free, but he did not rise ; he 
 gasped for breath, and the blood poured 
 from his nostrils. 
 
 " You great, big, ugly butcher ! " ex- 
 claimed Sutherland. " I thought I 
 warned you not to bully the lower 
 boys." 
 
 "He called me names," answered 
 Timor, getting up. 
 
 " Yes," said Jack, faintly, " I did. He's 
 got gipsy blood in his veins. His uncle 
 Ivan is the chief of the gipsies, and he 
 helped his uncle and Heme the Hunter 
 
tm 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON: 
 
 to rob this house the other aight. I'm 
 Bure of it." 
 
 Timor affected to laugh. 
 
 " ^^'^lat rot, isn't it ? " he said. 
 
 " Well, it does seem fiinny," replied 
 Sutherland. 
 
 " I don't think he is quite right in his 
 mind," continued Timor. " He has been 
 reading about Heme the Hunter, and 
 he can't think of anything else. Still, 
 it is not nice to be called names. I am 
 sorry I got irritated and lost my temper. 
 He may say what he likes in future, and 
 I will take no notice of it." 
 
 " That is the best way. We all know 
 that you are a Russian gentleman," said 
 Sutherland. 
 
 " A Russian thief, you mean," put in 
 Jack. 
 
 " Shut up," replied Sutherland. " If 
 you insult Timor like that I shall let 
 him lick you." 
 
 " But it is true," Jack persisted. 
 
 " You see how he aggravates me," 
 observed Timor. " My fingers itch (io 
 get at him. Let me knout him ! " 
 
 He j)ulled his pet knout from his 
 pocket. 
 
 It had been newly twisted and knotted. 
 
 " Not now," replied Sutherland. 
 
 " It will keep," remarked the Russian, 
 casting a vindictive glance at Jack. 
 
 Sutherland toolc him by the arm and 
 they quitted the room together, leaving 
 Jack to sluice his face in a basin of cold 
 water. 
 
 Scarcely had he finished removing the 
 trace of the battle than Bill Bragg put 
 his head in at the door. 
 
 " Who shot the cow ? Ha, ha ! " he 
 cried. 
 
 "I rather think you did," replied 
 Jack. " Look at my eye. Is it badly 
 bunged up ? " 
 
 " Closing rapidly. Who did that ? " 
 
 " Timor, the beast. Do you know he's 
 half a gipsy ? The chief of the gipsies 
 in Wirdsor forest is his uncle." 
 
 " Never ! " 
 
 " It's trae. Tell all the fellows, will 
 you ? I shan't go down to dinner with 
 this eye." 
 
 " No ; you'll have to stay out for a 
 day or two. Timor a gipsy ! I'll whack 
 it about. Slap-bang and all alive ! " 
 
 The bell rang for dinner, and the boys 
 ran downstau-s to the mid-day meal. Bill 
 Bragg telhng aU the friends he met 
 
 about Timor hanng a gipsy for an 
 uncle. 
 
 Boys are very fond of any little bit of 
 scandal Uke that, and it swiftly went 
 from one to the other, so that when 
 Timor passed anyone he would hear a 
 remark like this — 
 
 " I wouldn't be a gipsy." 
 
 Or— 
 
 "How would you like to live in a 
 tent ? " 
 
 Or— 
 
 " All gipsies are thieves," 
 
 He found the word " gipsy " written in 
 his books if he left them for a moment 
 on a table, and he was continually find- 
 ing pieces of paper pinned to his back 
 with the word " gipsy " written upon 
 them. 
 
 All this was very annoying, and though 
 he thrashed one or two boys whom he 
 suspected of being his tormentors, it did 
 not stop the annoyance. 
 
 He had to thank Jack Dashley for this, 
 and Jack was rather proud of what he 
 had done. 
 
 A week passed, and Jack's face was 
 quite well. 
 
 He was quite respectful to Timor in 
 his manner, he did his fagging quietly, 
 and the latter could not find any pretext 
 to quarrel with him ; but for all that he 
 hated him more and more every day, 
 and was only biding his time. 
 
 As soon as Jack was well enough to go 
 out, he went with Bragg and Owen to 
 IMr. Soda's, having obtained permission 
 to attend his evening classes. 
 
 They had about half a mile to walk 
 up the Slough Road. 
 
 It was a moonlight night, and they 
 had onlj' just crossed over Fifteen-arch- 
 bridge, when they saw a tall form, 
 wrapped in a sheet, spring over the 
 hedge into the road. 
 
 It stood looking at them for a moment, 
 when it bounded into the air, cleared the 
 hedge, and was seen springing over the 
 meadow. 
 
 " What's that ? " asked Jack, with his 
 mouth wide open. 
 
 " Spring-heeled Jack," repUed Bragg. 
 " Have you never heard of hun ? I ha\e 
 often." 
 
 " Is it a ghost ? " inquired Owen. 
 
 " Nobody knows what it is. I should 
 like to catch it and just find out. Look ! 
 here it comes back again." 
 
OR, THE ADVENTUKES OF TWO COLLEGE CHOMS. 
 
 63 
 
 The thing he called Spring-heeled 
 Jack was in reality crossing the field 
 and returning to the road. 
 
 It moved like a kangaroo, in jumps, 
 and no sooner had it touched the ground 
 than up it went, into the air, clearing a 
 space of several feet. 
 
 It was tall and thin. 
 
 Its face seemed ghastly pale, but that 
 was perhaps produced by the moonlight, 
 and the sheet in which it was enve- 
 loped. 
 
 " I never saw such a funny thing ! " 
 exclaimed Jack. " And if it comes 
 into the road again I'll try and catch 
 it. You two stand in the place where 
 you are now, I will hide under the 
 hedge." 
 
 He did as he proposed, and Spring- 
 
 heeled Jack lighted over the hedge, not 
 
 suspecting any mischief. 
 
 As he did so, Jack of Eton laid hold of 
 his leg. 
 
 It was a solid, substantial, fleshy leg, 
 and bore no resemblance to the unsub- 
 stantial support of a ghost. 
 
 There was a struggle, but Jac'c held 
 on like grim death, and eventually 
 pulled off a thick heavy boot. 
 
 The ghost ran away, but he seemed 
 lame, for he only jumped on one side, 
 and could not go fast. 
 
 " After him ! " shouted Jack. *' Capture 
 him ! " 
 
 " Hurrah ! " shouted Owen. " Let's 
 give chase and run him to earth." 
 
 Owen and Bragg started up the road 
 after the supposed ghost at a terrific pace. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 AT MR. soda's. 
 
 The mysterious figure which Dashley 
 had so cleverly caught hold of could not 
 run very well when deprived of one of 
 its boots. 
 
 It was speedily captured by Owen and 
 Bragg, who dragged it down in the road. 
 
 To make sure that it should not get 
 up again, Bragg sat on it. 
 
 " Keep still, you varmint ! " he ex- 
 claimed, " or I'll spifflicate you." 
 
 " Come on, Jack," said Owen. " We've 
 got him." 
 
 Jack hastened to the spot, and im- 
 mediately dragged ofiF the other boot. 
 
 '■ Now you can let him get up," he 
 cried. 
 
 The person rose to his feet and 
 removed a mask from his fece, dis- 
 closing, by the light of the gas lamp, 
 the features of Jimmy Jingo, the boy 
 whom Jack and Owen had met on their 
 way to Eton, when Timor let loose 
 Owen's bird. 
 
 " Is it you, Jimmy ? " exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " Yes, you've bowled me out," replied 
 Jimmy Jingo. 
 
 " What were you doing ? " 
 
 " Spring-heeled Jack. It's no end of 
 a dodge. I had the boots made for me. 
 They've got awfal big and strong springs 
 in them. "VMien you jump they send 
 you flying into the air like a kite. Then 
 
 I put on the mask, and I took the sheet 
 off my bed — it makes a lovely ghost — 
 and I have sent everyone into fits, in- 
 cluding the college policeman." 
 
 "You're a nice cup of tea, I don't 
 think," replied Jack. 
 
 " I didn't know it was you, Dashley," 
 said Jimmy, " or I wouldn't have done 
 it." 
 
 " That's what you say." 
 
 " Give me the boots and let me get 
 back." 
 
 " How did you get out ? " 
 
 '* I had a pass to go to the mathema- 
 tical school." 
 
 " You shirked school and played ghost; 
 that was very wrong. I shall confiscate 
 these boots." 
 
 " 'What ? " cried Jimmy, in a tone of 
 dismay. 
 
 " The boots are mine, ditto mask, ditto 
 sheet. It's my turn to do the ghost 
 trick." 
 
 " Do you mean that ? " 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 Jimmy looked miserable, for he would 
 have to walk back to college in the mud, 
 having only his socks to protect his feet. 
 
 " I say," he exclaimed, " this is a 
 beastly shame." 
 
 " I think it is a jolly lark." 
 
 Jack put on the boots, which fitted 
 
S4 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 him beautifully, and wrapping himself 
 in the sheet, adjusted the mask. 
 
 " How do I look ? " he asked. 
 
 " Regular castle spectre, good respect- 
 able old family ghost," replied Owen. 
 
 " You'll give me the togs again ? " 
 remarked Jimmy Jingo. 
 
 " When I've done with them," rephed 
 Jack. " Now j'ou cut along home." 
 
 " Take care how you work the boots," 
 said Jimmy. 
 
 " How do you mean ? " 
 
 "You mustn't jump too high unless 
 you want to go over something. It 
 wants a lot of practice. I landed on the 
 top of a house once, and had to sing out 
 for a ladder to get down." 
 
 " Draw it mild." 
 
 " Well, you'll see, that's all." 
 
 Jack gave a jump and went bounding 
 along up the road. 
 
 " Hip-hip and hurrah ! " cried Owen. 
 " Holloa, boys, here's another guy I " 
 
 " Follow him up," said Bragg. 
 
 "I hope he'll jolly well break his 
 neck," he remarked. " I was a flat to 
 let him catch me," cried Jimmy, looking 
 after Jack. 
 
 As he went on, Jack found that there 
 was a great deal of truth in Jimmy's 
 advice, for the springs were very power- 
 ful, and the more he jumped the higher 
 he went. 
 
 It was with great difficulty that he 
 prevented himself from falling on his 
 nose. 
 
 Extending his hands, he managed to 
 keep his balance, but he had started too 
 quickly on his wild career and could not 
 stop himself. 
 
 Up went Jack, and no sooner had he 
 come down than up he went again, 
 higher than before. 
 
 He resembled the enterprising young 
 gentleman who, mid snow and ice, bore 
 a banner with the strange device " Ex- 
 celsior." 
 
 " Stop me, Owen," he exclaimed. 
 
 " How ? " asked Owen, who was run- 
 ning breathlessly after him. 
 
 " Hold me down." 
 
 " I can't catch you." 
 
 « ^^^lere's Bragg ? " 
 
 "Not far off," said Bill. "I'm all 
 slap-bang and all aUve. Wliere are you 
 trying to get to — the moon ? " 
 
 " I'll be hanged if I know where I'm 
 going," answered Jack. 
 
 Sometimes they heard his tones dis- 
 tinctly, and at others they seemed to be 
 hstening to some spirit in the air. 
 
 It was in vain they tried to catch him. 
 
 He defied all their efforts, like the 
 giant who had the seven-league boots. 
 
 At length they saw him dart upwards 
 like a projectile from a mountain gun, 
 and he disappeared from their \-iew alto- 
 gether. 
 
 " Halloa, Jack, where are you ? " cried 
 Owen. " I can't afford to lose my chum 
 in this way, you know." 
 
 " Up a tree," replied Jack, from the 
 side of the road. 
 
 " Are you hurt ? " 
 
 " I knocked my head going up, but 
 I've lodged all right on a bough. Bother 
 the boots. I'm going to take them off. 
 I don't care who has the beastly things. 
 If I hadn't landed in this old tree gocxi- 
 ness only knows where I would have 
 fetched up." 
 
 The boys could not help laughing, 
 but Jack was in earnest. 
 
 Down fell first one boot and then the 
 other. 
 
 "I'll have a try with them," said 
 Bragg. " I'm a dab at spring heels. 
 Why, I had a pair of boots like these 
 years ago ; they're nothing new." 
 
 He put them on, and Jack descended 
 fi-om his elevated position ; but confident 
 as Bragg appeared, he walked very 
 slowly, not attempting to make any big 
 jumps. 
 
 " Go slowly," he observed ; " that's 
 the way. Look how beautifully I 
 manage. It's only a flat who goes up 
 and down, doing the kangaroo business." 
 
 They had now reached the house in 
 which Mr. Benjamin Soda dwelt. 
 
 It was an unpretending Uttle cottage, 
 standing in its own grounds, removed 
 about twenty yards from the side of the 
 road. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Soda was a clever man, 
 but he suffered from domestic infelicity. 
 
 His wife Maria, whom he called 'Kia, 
 was a woman of uncertain temper as well 
 as age. 
 
 The boys called her " old and bitter." 
 
 She wore glasses and she drank 
 glasses. 
 
 In feet she was given to drink, and 
 all her husband could do would not stop 
 her. 
 
 When under the influence of her 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHCM3 
 
 55 
 
 favourite stimulant, brandy, she led Mr. 
 Soda a dreadful life. 
 
 WTien not teaching he was reading ; 
 he was a bookworm, and had a great 
 liking for poetry. 
 
 He frequently made quotations, and 
 added force to his remarks by saying, 
 " 'WTiat are the words of the poet, my 
 boy ? " concluding with a line or two of 
 an appropriate nature from some favou- 
 rite author. 
 
 When the boya reached the house 
 Jack said — 
 
 " I believe, Billy, you are in a funk." 
 
 " Am I ? " repUed Bragg. 
 
 " Yes ; if you were not you would 
 leap over the fence and rap at old Brandy 
 and Soda's window." 
 
 " I'll do it. Slap-bang and all aUve ! " 
 answered Bragg. 
 
 He made a jump, and the wonderful 
 boots carried him over the palings into 
 the garden. 
 
 Up he went again, and his eflforts to 
 stop himself were fruitless, for he had 
 to keep on bounding just as Jack had 
 done when he once started on his mad 
 flight. 
 
 The end of it was that he crossed the 
 garden in three bounds, and went 
 straight at the window and through it. 
 
 The casement was broken, and so was 
 the glass. 
 
 Crash ! 
 
 Mr. Soda was sitting at his table 
 reading as usual when the accident 
 happened, and the strange, ghost-like, 
 sheeted, masked thing came abruptly to 
 disturb his serenity. 
 
 " Good heavens ! " he gasped. 
 
 Bragg knocked his head against the 
 ceiling and came to a pause against the 
 wall, for the simple reason that he could 
 go no further. 
 
 " Oh, Lor' ! " he said, as he rolled on 
 the carpet. 
 
 " What are the words of the poet ? " 
 cried Mr. Soda. " Angels and ministers 
 of grace defend us." 
 
 " It's all right, governor," said Bragg. 
 " I'm not hurt." 
 
 " Wiio said you were ? " repUed the 
 tutor. " WTiat are you ? " 
 
 " BLl I Bragg, Etonian. Slap-bang and 
 all alive! I've been doing Spring- 
 heeled Jack, and it's knocked me into a 
 hat." 
 
 " Really^ I do not understand." 
 
 At this juncture. Jack and Owen en- 
 tered through the broken window and 
 explained the mystery. 
 
 " This is very peculiar," said Mr. 
 Soda, "and I may add very irregular. 
 Take ofif that odd costume, sir." 
 
 Bragg obeyed, and the boots were 
 minutely examined by Mr. Soda, who 
 put them in a comer. 
 
 " These boots I shall keep," he ex- 
 claimed. " For what are the words of 
 tie poet, my boy ? " 
 
 " I'm not good at riddles, sir," replied 
 Bragg. " Ask me an easier one." 
 
 " It's not a riddle. The poet says — 
 ' Whoever dare these boots displace, 
 Must meet Bombastes face to face.' 
 The sheet you can keep, also the mask." 
 
 " Does the poet say that ? " 
 
 " No. That is what I say." 
 
 " Then I have to thank you for 
 nothing," repHed Bragg. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Soda looked ruefully at 
 the broken window, through which the 
 inclement evening air made its way. 
 
 While he was thus engaged, his wife 
 threw the door open and entered. 
 
 She had broken her leg some years 
 before ; it had left her lame, and she 
 always walked with the aid of a crutch 
 stick. 
 
 First of aU she looked at the window, 
 then at the boys, and finally at her 
 
 " At it again," she cried. 
 
 " 'Ria," replied her husband, " the 
 damage you notice was caused by an 
 accident which I deeply deplore." 
 
 " 'Mi. B.," she continued. 
 
 " Mrs. S.," he replied. 
 
 " Brandy and soda," exclaimed Bragg. 
 " A very good combination." 
 
 IMi-s. Soda raised her stick and hit 
 Bragg a blow on the shoulder which 
 caused him to roll into a chair. 
 
 " Perhaps you'll shut your mouth 
 after that," she said. 
 
 " Yes, mum," replied Bragg. " That's 
 enough for me. I don't want any more. 
 I'm not a hog, I assure you." 
 
 She turned disdainfully from him bo 
 her unfortunate husband, and glared al 
 him through her spectacles. 
 
 " Twig the giglamps," muttered Bragg. 
 
 " My dear," said Mr. Soda, nervously, 
 " do not fix your gaze on me in that 
 threatening manner. What are the 
 words of the poet ? " 
 
56 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON : 
 
 " Bother the poet." 
 
 "He speaks of the eye in a sweet 
 frenzy rolling." 
 
 " I'm not sweet." 
 
 " It would be rude to contradict you, 
 my angel, for your aspect somewhat re- 
 sembles vinegar at the present moment." 
 
 " Oh, you brute ! I'll beat you more 
 for that than anything," she roared, as 
 she raised her crutch. 
 
 Mr. Soda retreated to the wall, and 
 raised his arm to protect himself. 
 
 " 'Ria, don't you do it," he exclaimed. 
 
 « Won't I ? Wait till you see. What 
 did you break the window for ? " 
 
 " I didn't break it." 
 
 " Who did, then ? " she demanded. 
 
 " One of the boys." 
 
 " Which one ? Point him out. I 
 believe you only want to make a scape- 
 goat of him. I suppose you couldn't 
 tind a word in the dictionary and you 
 lost your temper, as you always do, and 
 threw the book at the window. Oh, my, 
 if you did, I'll beat you more for that 
 than anything." 
 
 " ]My dear, I didn't. It was Spring- 
 heeled Jack." 
 
 " Who's he ? " 
 
 Jack had been an attentive and an 
 amused spectator of this curious scene 
 between husband and wife, and he 
 quietly slipped on the sheet and the 
 mask. 
 
 " Behold him ! " he exclaimed, stretch- 
 ing out his hand. 
 
 Mrs. Soda shrank back aghast. 
 
 " The saints defend us I " she cried. 
 " What are you ? " 
 
 " An avenging spirit." 
 
 " ^V^lat do you want of me ? " 
 
 " Down on your knees and beg your 
 husband's pardon or your time has 
 come." 
 
 " Good spirit, I do not understand 
 you," she said, trembling. 
 
 " Obey me, or I will carry you away 
 mto the realms of space." 
 
 " Spare me." 
 
 " To your husband ! " cried Jack. " On 
 your knees, quick ! I am a demon." 
 
 " Good demon, be merciful." 
 
 " Apologise — quick ! The cavernous 
 recesses of the mountains of the moon 
 yearn for your worthless carcase. Trifle 
 not with me ! You shall delve in the 
 mines for all eternity if " 
 
 " No, no ! I will do as you bid me." 
 
 Mrs. Soda sank on her knees and 
 crawled to her husband, assuming a 
 most abject demeanour." 
 
 " I am very sorry," she said. 
 
 " That is not enough," cried Jack. 
 
 " What more do you require ? " 
 
 " Go on. It is not for me to dictate, 
 but for you to speak. Dread my wrath 
 if " 
 
 " Oh, I'll do anything, dear demon," 
 cried Mrs. Soda. " Benjamin, I'll never 
 do 80 any more. I'll burn my crutch. 
 Forgive your wretched wife and drive 
 away the fiend." 
 
 Mr. Soda clasped her in his arms as 
 he raised her from the floor. 
 
 " Now you are my own precious pet," 
 he said. 
 
 " More brandy and soda— B. and S. 
 for ever ! " exclaimed Bill Bragg. " Go 
 it ! Slap-bang and all alive ! " 
 
 " What are the words of the poet ? " 
 remarked Mr. Soda. " ' Love lias charms 
 to soothe the savage breast.' " 
 
 " What ! Call me a savage ? " asked 
 Mrs. Soda. 
 
 " No ; I'm the — a — the savage, my 
 dear. It is I who am soothed." 
 
 Jack threw ofif the sheet and burst 
 into a loud fit of laughter, in which his 
 companions could not help joining. 
 
 " Ha ! Deceived ! Tricked ! " she 
 exclaimed. 
 
 "Yes, my love. A little innocent 
 device of Dashley's," answered her hus- 
 band. 
 
 " And you knew it ? " 
 
 " Well, I knew it wasn't a ghost." 
 
 " Oh, you beast ! I'll beat you more 
 for that than anything," she said, 
 attacking him with her crutch, and 
 giving him a sound thrashing, which he 
 in vain endeavoured to prevent. 
 
 She only left ofif when the stick fell 
 from her hand, and Mr. Soda was allowed 
 to take refuge behind an arm-chair, 
 where he rubbed his back and bald head. 
 
 " You villain ! " she said. 
 
 Then she looked round and glared at 
 the boys. 
 
 " Do any of you want a little punish- 
 ment ? " she asked. 
 
 " Thank you, ma'am," replied Jack, 
 poUtely ; " at the present moment I am 
 not a candidate for your agreeable 
 favours." 
 
 «= My what ? " 
 
 " I am sure that you are quite a lady, 
 
OK, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 5V 
 
 and tliat you wouldn't so far lower your- 
 self as to commit an assault upon a 
 stranger. Your husband belongs to you. 
 He is, in a manner of speaking, your 
 property." 
 
 " Of course he is." 
 
 " No doubt," added Jack, in the same 
 polite strain, "he likes a little mild 
 correction." 
 
 " No he don't," growled ]Mr. Soda. 
 
 " Oh yes you do, sir. You are used 
 to it, as the eels get used to skinning. 
 It does you good." 
 
 " She's been drinking," replied Rir. 
 Soda. 
 
 " B. and S.," put in Bragg. 
 
 Mrs. Soda picked up her crutch and 
 shook it threateningly at him. 
 
 " What are the words of the poet ? " 
 continued Mr. Soda, who felt himself 
 comparatively safe behind the chair. 
 
 "Another riddle. Give it up," said 
 Bragg. 
 
 " The poet says — * Why should a man 
 put au enemy in his mouth to steal 
 away his brains ? ' " 
 
 " Hurrah for the poet ! " cried Bragg, 
 
 " Young man," said Mrs. Soda, " if 
 you don't shut your mouth, as I advised 
 you before, I'll make an example of you." 
 
 " Hit him hard, ma'am ; he's got no 
 friends," remarked Jack. 
 
 " Come, I say. Jack," cried Bragg, 
 " you're getting it up for me." 
 
 " He's a very nice gentlemanly young 
 fellow," said Mrs. Soda, " and I like him 
 better than any one I have seen here." 
 
 Jack bowed in recognition of the 
 compliment. 
 
 " You are a perfect lady, ma'am," he 
 answered. "It is a pleasure to meet 
 and know you. 'V^Tiat says the poet, as 
 JL-. Soda observes ? ' A thing of beauty 
 is a joy for ever.' ]\'Ir. Soda, ma'am, 
 don't know what a treasure he has got 
 in you." 
 
 Sirs. Soda sighed deeply. 
 
 "That's what I often and often tell 
 him," she rejoined. 
 
 " If you were laid in the cold, cold 
 grave, he'd miss you, ma'am." 
 
 " Indeed he would." 
 
 " I'd give her an elegant funeral," 
 said Mr. Benjamin Soda pathetically. 
 
 His wife raised her crutch and shook 
 it at him. 
 
 " ^V^lat, you wretch ? " she cried. 
 
 " I didn't mean anything, 'Kia. Put 
 
 that stick down. I won't give you an 
 elegant funeral if you don't like it." 
 
 " ^^^lat win you do then ? " 
 
 "I'll — I'll let the parish bury you. 
 Plain deal coffin, my dear, hearse and 
 mourning carriage all in one. No mutes, 
 no plumes — this style, one pound two 
 and six." 
 
 " Oh, Benjamin ! " 
 
 " Cheap as dirt, my dear." 
 
 " Yes, and twice as nasty. How dare 
 you talk to me in that way ? I'll beat 
 you more for that than anything." 
 
 " If you go on in that way I shall lose 
 all my pupils." 
 
 " Serve you right too." 
 
 " Ruin stares me in the face, 'Ria." 
 
 "Let her stare," replied Mrs. Soda, 
 putting her arms akimbo. 
 
 Mr. Soda turned to the boys with an 
 appealing look. 
 
 " Young gentlemen," he exclaimed, 
 " I dismiss you for this evening. We 
 will study the lovely odes of Horatius 
 Flaccus and the splendid verse of the 
 bard of Mantua to-morrow, for what are 
 the words of the poet ? * What can't be 
 cured must be endured.' " 
 
 Mr. Soda was a philosopher. 
 
 The boys put on their hats and pre- 
 pared to go. 
 
 " Ain't you going to teach to-night ? " 
 asked his wife. 
 
 " No, my dear ; not being a machine, 
 I cannot stand this excitement. I shall 
 shortly be a bankrupt. We shall not be 
 able to pay our butcher, our baker, or 
 our candlestick-maker. You will see me 
 the inmate of a debtor's prison, and then 
 you wiU weep, but it will be too 
 late." 
 
 " Catch me weeping," she replied. " I 
 am not one of that sort." 
 
 " Crocodiles, my love, sometimes shed 
 tears." 
 
 " Oh, you unfeeling wretch ! Call me 
 a crocodile ? " 
 
 " Yes, I did," said Mr. Soda, making 
 a stand. 
 
 " You will repent this. I'll beat you 
 more for that than anything." 
 
 " Do it," he replied, manfully. " Wliat 
 are the words of the poet ? ' A time 
 will come.' Ha, ha ! " 
 
 ]\Irs. Soda clutched her stick and 
 rushed at her liege lord and protector, 
 who crept under the chair. 
 
 " Give it him, ma'am," said Jack. 
 
58 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 " It's a shame to see an amiable creature 
 like j'ou treated in this way." 
 
 " He does aggravate me," replied Mrs. 
 Soda. 
 
 " You have my sincere sympathj, 
 madam." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Dashley. It is 
 something to have one friend. Oh, 
 won't I let him have it presently. I 
 only wish he'd come from under that 
 chair. The coward ! " 
 
 Mr. Soda would have preferred to 
 remain in the secluded position he had 
 chosen, no matter how undignified it 
 was, if his better half had permitted 
 him to do so, but she conceived the 
 brilliant idea of dragging away the 
 chair. 
 
 He was revealed on his hands and 
 knees, as if he was giving a " back " at 
 leap-frog. 
 
 Thwack ! thwack ! went the stick, and 
 " Oh, oh ! " roared the unlucky school- 
 teacher. 
 
 " Stop it, 'Ria ! " he cried. " Drop it, 
 I say. Help, help ! " 
 
 Bill Bragg stepped forward and at- 
 temjjted to seize the angry lady by the 
 arm. 
 
 She, however, turned her wrath upon 
 him, and he received several blows on 
 the back and shoulders. 
 
 " You want some of it, do you ? " she 
 exclaimed. " I've enough for all of you. 
 Take that, and that, and that ! " 
 
 " Sorry I spoke," replied Bragg. 
 « Oh, Lor', don't she hurt ? " 
 
 " I mean to." 
 
 " Turn it up. It ain't good enough. 
 
 Oh, what are you up to, 'Ria ? I'm off; 
 good-night, boys." 
 
 He made a dash for the window. 
 
 " Hoop-la ! Slap-bang and all alive ! " 
 he added, as he disappeared through the 
 broken casement. 
 
 Mrs. Soda, however, had now got 
 thoroughly aroused, and she followed 
 him. 
 
 " For this relief much thanks," mur- 
 mured Mr. Benjamin Soda. " What are 
 the words of the poet, my boys ? • All's 
 well that ends well.' " 
 
 " Perhaps she will pitch into us, sir, 
 now she's got her back up," said 
 Jack. 
 
 " It would not surprise me in the 
 least. In fact, nothing that that re- 
 markable woman does, has done, or may 
 do, surprises me," replied Mr. Soda. 
 
 " I think we'll be off." 
 
 " Don't desert me altogether," said the 
 professor. " This sort of thing does not 
 occur every day, you know." 
 
 '' Oh, we'll come again, sir, no fear. 
 It's as good as a circus ; I rather like 
 it." 
 
 " I don't want to lose my pupils." 
 
 " Certainly not. Good-night, sir," 
 answered Jack. 
 
 He and Owen quitted the house with- 
 out encountering Mrs. Soda, but in their 
 agitation they took the wrong turning, 
 and instead of going back to college, 
 they went towards Datchet. 
 
 There were some lights in a large 
 house, and also a lamp in the window 
 of the porter's lodge, so Jack stopped, 
 thinking it advisable to ask the way. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 CAUGHT IN 
 
 " I'm afraid we're lost," said Jack. 
 
 " So am I," answered Owen ; " for I 
 don't recognise this road at all. Shan't 
 we catch it if we are late for the lock- 
 up?" 
 
 " I shall, for old Dryasdust is down 
 upon me ever since his book was burnt." 
 
 This was true. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust never lost an oppor- 
 tunity of punishing Jack Dashley for 
 the smallest offence. 
 
 " What a shame that was." remarked 
 
 Owen. " I wish we could find out who 
 did it." 
 
 " Timor's the man, only I can't prove 
 it. How I hate that fellow ! " 
 
 " It's wrong to hate anybody," said 
 Owen ; " but I must admit I don't love 
 him." 
 
 " Nor anybody else. How could they ? 
 Suppose we inquire where we are ? " 
 
 " All right. Go ahead ! " answered 
 Owen. 
 
 They went to the lodge and knocked 
 
on, TQE ADVENTUKES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 59 
 
 at the door, which was opened by a 
 strong powerful man, who smiled grimly 
 when he saw the boys. 
 
 '' Please, which is the way to Eton ? " 
 asked Jack. 
 
 The porter looked knowingly at them, 
 and beckoned them inside. 
 
 "Step in," he exclaimed. "I'll tell 
 you." 
 
 Unsuspectingly they walked in, 
 although they thought there was 
 gomething odd in the man's manner. 
 
 The door was instantly closed behind 
 them and locked. 
 
 " Holloa ! " cried Jack, " what is the 
 meaning of this ? " 
 
 " So you've come back ? " said the 
 porter. 
 
 " Back ! Why we've never been here 
 before." 
 
 " That's all my eye. Step across the 
 yard ; you'll find Greenwood there, and 
 he'll talk to you." 
 
 " Perhaps you will have the kindness 
 to explain this strange conduct," said 
 Jack. " We are Eton boys who have 
 lost our way." 
 
 " Tell that to the marines. Get into 
 the yard. Step lively now ! " replied 
 the porter. 
 
 He opened another door and let them 
 have entrance to a yard, in which they 
 saw a man with a big dog. 
 
 " Here's the runaways, Bill," cried the 
 porter. 
 
 " Hey ? " replied the man addressed 
 as Bill. " I'm glad of that, for I was 
 thinking of sending the dog after them. 
 He can go to his kennel now." 
 
 The porter closed the door of his 
 lodge, and Bill Greenwood proceeded to 
 fasten the dog by a chain to a staple in 
 the wall. 
 
 Jack and Owen looked curiously at 
 one another. 
 
 " Here's a go," said Jack. " We're in 
 for gomething funny." 
 
 " I can't make it out," remarked Owen. 
 " This can't be a private school, can it ? " 
 
 " Blest if I know. All I can under- 
 btand is that two boys have disappeared, 
 and that we are supposed to be the boys 
 come back," replied Jack. 
 
 " Perhaps it will come all right when 
 we talk to the fellow with the dog," 
 Owen suggested. 
 
 They waited anxiously until the man 
 came up to them, and it must be con- 
 
 fessed that their hearts beat a little 
 quicker than usual. 
 
 " Well, Jack, how do you find your- 
 self by this time ? " asked Bill, as he 
 approached. 
 
 " He knows my name," thought Jack. 
 
 " You're Jack the Giant-killer, jou 
 know. How many giants have you 
 killed?" 
 
 "Oh, about a dozen," Jack replied, 
 thinking the man must be mad. 
 
 " And how is the state of the health 
 of the Bottle Imp ? " 
 
 " Who's that ? " 
 
 " Why, your friend thera Oh, you're 
 a couple of nice chums, you are. Come, 
 now, tell us how you got out." 
 
 Jack was rapidly becoming bewildered. 
 
 He looked at the man in a state almost 
 bordering on despair. 
 
 "Answer me now, or I'll Uck you," 
 cried BiU. 
 
 He raised his hand as if he fully meant 
 what he said, and Jack deemed it prudent 
 to say something. 
 
 " It was through the window," he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " Blowed if I didn't think so. It's my 
 firm opinion that you would get through 
 the keyhole if you wanted to. Do you 
 want any supper ? " 
 
 " Well, we haven't had any." 
 
 " I'll bring you some bread and cheese 
 and a bit of cold meat, though it is more 
 than you deserve, for you've given us a 
 lot of trouble. There's two of our chaps 
 scouring the country for you now, but 
 as you've come back and given your- 
 selves up, I'll strain a point and humour 
 you a little." 
 
 " Who are we ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Now, ain't that funny ? " laughed 
 the man. " You can be sensible enough 
 at times, and yet you can't recollect 
 where you Uve." 
 
 " You've made a mistake," Jack said. 
 " We are Eton boys, and " 
 
 " Oh, yes, you can stash all that. I 
 know you. Jack the Giant-killer, as well 
 as I do the Bottle Imp." 
 
 " I think it is very rude of you to call 
 me a bottle imp," said Owen. 
 
 " That's what you think you are ; of 
 course we know you ain't anything of 
 the sort." 
 
 " For goodness sake tell me where I 
 am," pleaded Jack. 
 
 " If it will do you any good I will tell 
 
60 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 you. This is Doctor Masham's private 
 lunatic asylum, and you two are our in- 
 sane boys, Jack the Giant-killer and the 
 Bottle Imj). I'll put you in with the 
 Idiot of the Mountain to-night, and you 
 can go to your own rooms to-morrow." 
 
 Here was a pleasant announcement 
 for the boys, who suddenly found that 
 they were supposed to be two escaped 
 lunatics who had got out of the asylum. 
 
 It was curious that they should have 
 asked their way at the porter's lodge, 
 just where they were wanted. 
 
 The darkness which prevailed in the 
 yard prevented the keeper from scruti- 
 nising their faces completely, or he 
 might have found out the mistake. 
 
 He conducted them to a room at the 
 entrance of the building and pushed 
 them in. 
 
 "The Idiot of the Mountain won't 
 hurt you," he said ; " he is harmless. 
 I'll bring yoiur supper presently." 
 
 " Won't you tell the doctor I want to 
 see him ? " cried Jack. 
 
 " I'll tell him, but I don't think he'U 
 come before the morning, and when he 
 does it's just as likely as not he'll order 
 you to be whipped, so I wouldn't be in 
 a hurry if I was you." 
 
 " I have something of importance to 
 communicate to him." 
 
 "It'll keep, won't it? What is it? 
 Something about the number of giants 
 you killed or the imps you bottled ? " 
 
 " No ; it's a secret to all but the 
 doctor." 
 
 "Well, I'U teU him," replied the 
 keeper, shutting the door. 
 
 On a bed in a comer was sleeping an 
 old man whom the boys did not think it 
 advisable to wake up. 
 
 They sat down and looked gloomily at 
 each other. 
 
 No wonder they did so. 
 
 If the doctor would not see them they 
 might be kept for days in the asylum, 
 and have the misery of being soundly 
 whipped for their supposed running 
 away. 
 
 It was anything but a pleasing pros- 
 pect. 
 
 The boys who had really escaped were 
 two lads of weak intellect who had read 
 fairy stories until one thought he was 
 the veritable Jack the Giant-killer and 
 the other the Bottle Imp. 
 
 In the fireplace a small fire was burn- 
 
 ing, and it cast a ruddy glow around the 
 ill-furnished apartment. 
 
 Suddenly the old man on the bed 
 woke up and looked around him. 
 
 " Ha ! who have we here ? " he ex- 
 claimed. " Two poor friendless boys as 
 I am alive. I would relieve your neces- 
 sities if I could, believe me. I sympa- 
 thise with you from the bottom of my 
 heart." 
 
 " We don't want your sympathy," said 
 Owen. 
 
 " Indeed ! Have we then independent 
 beggars who have amassed a fortune in 
 their mendicant career ? 'Tis well." 
 
 " Shut up, you old fool ! " exclaimed 
 Jack. 
 
 "■^Tiat, am I, the only real and 
 genuine and original Idiot of the Moun- 
 tain, to be derided by two beardless 
 boys ? Forbid it, heaven, and the shades 
 of those who suffer wrong and have their 
 woes." 
 
 He seized a chair, and throwing it 
 down, jumped on it, which caused it to 
 break in pieces. 
 
 Grasping a leg of the chair, he bran- 
 dished it in the air and danced wildly 
 around the apartment. 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " he cried. " The old man 
 with the grey beard came to me in my 
 sleep and he said — 
 
 " ' Idiot of the ^Mountain, you must 
 kin a boy to-night.' 
 
 "I will do more. I will kill two 
 boys." 
 
 Jack did not like this threat, and he 
 retreated to the door, the handle of 
 which he tried. 
 
 It was locked. 
 
 " Confound it," he said, " we cannot 
 get out. What is to be done with the 
 lunatic ? " 
 
 " Floor him," rephed Owen. 
 
 The crazy man heard what they said 
 and became the more angry. 
 
 " Lunatic ! " he cried. " I'd have you 
 know I am as sane as you are, and only 
 kept here by the cupidity of my rela- 
 tions, who want to gain possession of my 
 property. I own the mountain. It is 
 mine ! Alas, they have stolen it ! " 
 
 He dropped the weapon with which 
 he had armed himself and burst into 
 tears. 
 
 "Cheer up, old 'un," said Jack. 
 " There are no doubt brighter days in 
 store for you." 
 
OR, TEE AD\'ENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 61 
 
 " Never I " be answered. 
 
 Then he fell on his knees, throwing 
 himself at Jack's feet, and putting on a 
 beseeching air, folded his hands. 
 
 " Give, oh, give me back my moun- 
 tain," he exclaimed. 
 
 " Your request shall be attended to," 
 answered Jack. 
 
 " It's no good to you," urged the 
 idiot. "You don't know where the 
 treasure is concealed." 
 
 " No, I don't." 
 
 " Kestore to me my mountain, and I 
 will bestow upon you gifts of gold and 
 precious stones. Kind sir, bear my 
 petition in mind. You are one of the 
 commissioners. I know you in spite of 
 your disguise. Ha, ha ! " 
 
 " All I can do for you I will. ^Vhere 
 is the mountain ? " 
 
 " I generally carry it on my back, but 
 they have taken it away and put it in 
 the spare room." 
 
 "Then it won't be difficult to get 
 it?" 
 
 " Not at all. And if you don't do it," 
 said the idiot, " I will have you for 
 dinner to-morrow, boiled or roasted, I 
 don't know which yet." 
 
 " I think I'd rather be roasted," re- 
 plied Jack, wishing to humour him. " I 
 generally am roasted, and people say I 
 taste best that way." 
 
 "Very well, you shall be roasted, and 
 I'U have you with mint sauce. You know 
 me, don't you ? I'm the only brother 
 of the King of the Cannibal Islands. 
 You must be killed now, though. Pre- 
 pare to die ! " 
 
 The poor creature was becoming 
 
 violent again, and a second time he seized 
 the leg of the broken chair, rushing 
 upon Jack, 
 
 Seeing it was necessary to defend 
 themselves, the boys possessed them- 
 selves of the remaining fragments, and 
 a fierce battle would have ensued had 
 not the door suddenly opened, admitting 
 the keeper and a benevolent-looking 
 man. 
 
 This proved to be the doctor. 
 
 " Seize the old fellow," he cried. 
 "You ought to have known that this 
 was his bad time." 
 
 The keeper secured the lunatic, and 
 the doctor looked at the boys. 
 
 " I don't know you," he continued. 
 " Certainly you are not the lads who 
 have nin away. Who are you, and how 
 did you come here ? " 
 
 Jack explained the mistake which the 
 porter had made, and the doctor ex- 
 pressed his regret that such an error 
 should have happened. 
 
 " It is fortunate I came to see you," 
 be said, " for you will get in time for 
 lock-up now. I will send you home in 
 my own carriage, and, if you hke, write 
 a letter to your tutor." 
 
 Jack thanked him, and he and Owen 
 were conducted to a waiting-room while 
 the horses were being harnessed and put 
 to the carriage. 
 
 In a short time they were on the way 
 home, and arrived safely at Mr. Dryas- 
 dust's, not at all sorry to escape from the 
 Idiot. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust did not say anything 
 to them, and they hastily got up their 
 lessons for the next day. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 JACK GETS INTO TROUBLE. 
 
 In the private garden of JNIr. Dryasdust 
 was a large wooden house, in which that 
 gentleman kept a large quantity of 
 valuable golden pheasants. 
 
 It was the time of year when they 
 laid, and the eggs were sometimes cooked 
 for their owner's breakfast. 
 
 Jack saw some going out of the kitchen, 
 and being informed by the cook what 
 they were, conceived a strong desire to 
 have some. 
 
 From the window of his room he cool'l 
 see the pheasantry, and often cast long- 
 ing ej'es in their du-ection. 
 
 He did not think his tutor required 
 all, and be one night let himself out of 
 the window by means of a sheet, anj 
 possessed himself of half-a-dozen. 
 
 The next morning, when fagging was 
 over, he proceeded to cook them, Owen 
 Tudor talcing as much interest in the 
 operation as he did. 
 
62 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 " I wonder what they will taste like?" 
 Baid Owen. " I've eaten almost all kinds 
 of eggs, except pheasants'." 
 
 "They're bound to be good, or old 
 Dryasdust wouldn't patronize them," 
 replied Jack. "Take one, old man — 
 they're done." 
 
 He had removed the saucepan from 
 the fire, and was about to give his friend 
 some of the eggs. 
 
 When, oh horror! he saw his tutor 
 standing before him. 
 
 It was a favourite custom of Mr. Dry- 
 asdust to walk about the house with list 
 slippers on, and look in at the boys' 
 rooms to see how they were going on 
 and what they were doing. 
 
 " Oh Lor', old Dryasdust ! " he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " Is much obliged to j'ou for the kind 
 and complimentary way in which you 
 speak of him. What have you got 
 there ? " 
 
 Jack saw that there was a look of sup- 
 pressed malignity in his eye. 
 
 In fact the opportunity he had been 
 looldng for had come at last. He had 
 never Uked Jack since the destruction of 
 his manuscript, of which he believed him 
 to be guilty, and he felt that he would 
 Uke to punish him if he could. 
 
 This was not exactly fair, but perhaps 
 it was natural under the circumstances. 
 
 " What have I got ? " replied Jack. 
 " Nothing sir." 
 
 " Nothing ? " 
 
 " Only a little boiling water." 
 
 " Don't tell me any falsehoods," cried 
 the tutor, taking the saucepan from him 
 and inspecting the contents. " Ha ! " 
 he added, " pheasants' eggs. Where did 
 you get these ? " 
 
 " I found them, sir." 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 Jack saw it was useless to prevaricate, 
 for he could not escape from the dilemma 
 in which he was placed. 
 
 " The fact is, sir, I took them out of 
 your pheasantry. I thought you were 
 eating too many, and I was anxious 
 about your health ; besides, I did not 
 think you would miss them." 
 
 A gleam of satisfaction appeared on 
 Mr. Dryasdust's face. 
 
 " Do you consider it gentlemanly to 
 steal my property ? " he asked. 
 
 " Steal { " repeated Jack, indignantly. 
 
 " Yes, I repeat what I said. He who 
 
 takes that which is not his, commits a 
 crime — in fact, he is a thief, and the law 
 condemns him." 
 
 Jack put his hand in his pocket and 
 produced half-a- sovereign, which he 
 threw down on the table. 
 
 " There, sir ; I think you will confesg 
 yon could not eat all the eggs, so I will 
 give you a fair price for what I have in 
 the pot. I don't know what the things 
 are worth, but I suppose that will pay 
 you for them, sir ; consider I have 
 bought them." 
 
 " It's too late. If I took that money 
 I should be compounding a felony ; of 
 course I could send for a policeman and 
 have you locked up. You would be sent 
 to prison and ruined for life. I shall not 
 adopt that course." 
 
 Jack was completely dumbfounded. 
 
 " I only bagged the eggs lor a lark, 
 sir," he said- 
 
 " A liirk ! " i-epeated his tutor. 
 
 " Yes ; I did not know you set such 
 store by them. I'm very sorry ; if you 
 won't take the money, I'll buy you some 
 more if I can get them in the town." 
 
 " Dashley ! " exclaimed Mr. Dryasdust, 
 impressively, " I am afraid you are a 
 very bad boy." 
 
 "Why, sir?" 
 
 " There was that affair of the manu- 
 script, the loss of which has nearly 
 broken my heart." 
 
 " But I didn't bum it, sir." 
 
 " Suspicion pointed to you. I have 
 not accused you of the offence, but I now 
 find that you have robbed my phea- 
 santry, and I shall complain of you to 
 the head master, the consequence of 
 which will be that you will be birched." 
 
 "Look over it this time, sir," said 
 Jack. " I did not mean any harm when 
 I took the pheasants' eggs, and really I 
 thought at times you were beginning to 
 flap your arms about like a pheasant's 
 wings and fancying yourself a bird, 
 through eating so many eggs, but 
 forgive me this time." 
 
 " It's impossible," answered the tutor. 
 
 He left the room after saying this, 
 and Jack was left staring at Owen Tudor, 
 who sympathised deeply with his chum. 
 
 " WTio'd have thought of his coming in 
 the room like that ? '' exclaimed Jack. 
 " In another ten minutes the beastly old 
 eggs would have been all eaten. It 
 wasn't stealing, Owen, was it, no more 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CnUM8. 
 
 63 
 
 than taking apples is ? We didn't want 
 to make a profit on the things ; it was 
 for the fun of the thing, and just to see 
 how they tasted." 
 
 " I was in it as much as you," replied 
 Owen, " for I let you down out of the 
 window." 
 
 After some little reflection. Jack made 
 up his mind how to act. 
 
 " My tutor," he said, " ought not to 
 have talked to me in the way he did ; 
 evidently he does not like me, he never 
 has liked me, since that afiair of the 
 book, and I won't stand it." 
 
 "You will have to see the head 
 master," remarked Owen. 
 
 " I won't." 
 
 " \Miat will you do, then ? " 
 
 " Eun away ! " replied Jack. 
 
 "You'll get caught and be brought 
 back. If you go home your father 
 won't keep you there, for you have told 
 me he is a stem man and fond of 
 discipline." 
 
 " I shan't go home, I'U enlist sooner." 
 
 " How can you ? " said Owen, who had 
 all the sterling sense of a Welshman ; 
 " you are not old enough or big enough 
 to go for a soldier." 
 
 " I might be a drummer boy," replied 
 Jack reflectively. 
 
 " Don't think of it, old boy ; I speak 
 as your chum, and I have a right to 
 advise you." 
 
 " I admit that." 
 
 " Very well, then, grin and bear it. 
 You are not the first Eton boy who has 
 been birched." 
 
 " But I don't deserve it." 
 
 " Yes you do ; plainly speaking, you 
 had no right to take the eggs. If we 
 Ifill do things that are wrong, we must 
 take the consequences." 
 
 " I won't submit to it ! " exclaimed 
 Jack, putting on his hat. " Good-bye, 
 old fellow." 
 
 Owen Tudor was astonished. 
 
 " ^^^lere are you going ? " he asked. 
 " It isn't time for morning school yet." 
 
 " I know that." 
 
 " If you are not at school there will 
 be a hue and cry after you. Come, 
 Jack, be reasonable," urged Owen. 
 
 "I'll try." 
 
 " It's all I want, but what's your little 
 game?" 
 
 "I scarcely know myself yet, but I'll 
 not be flogged, and you'll see that I 
 
 mean what I say. Ta-ta, old boy ; I'll 
 
 write to you." 
 
 Owen grew alarmed at Jack's manner, 
 for he saw he was very much in earnest, 
 and he feared that he would do some- 
 thing desperate. 
 
 In fact. Jack was proud and deter- 
 mined, and he felt that he would rather 
 do anything than be flogged. 
 
 "I say, Jack," cried Owen, "you are 
 not going to leave me in this way ? " 
 
 " Why not, dear boy ? I've said 
 good-bye." 
 
 "That's all right ; I know that. But 
 we are chums. Tell me where you are 
 going." 
 
 " Will you keep it a secret ? Honour 
 bright ? " 
 
 " Yes, indeed. Do you think that I 
 would say anything that would get you 
 into trouble ? " 
 
 " Well, then, I'll tell you. I mean to 
 go to Windsor forest and ask the gipsies 
 to let me hide with them." 
 
 "You do?" 
 
 " It's a fact. If Mr. Dryasdust asks 
 you where I am, you mu_st not let him 
 know, though you can tell him you can 
 bring me back if he won't punish me i\i 
 the way he threatens." 
 
 " But look here, Jack," said Owen ; 
 " you remember what little Efiie said ? " 
 
 " Her warning, you mean ? " 
 
 " I do. She came here expressly to 
 tell you not to venture into Windsor 
 forest because danger awaited you." 
 
 " Oh," said Jack, laughing, " that is 
 only some of Timor's threats, and I'm 
 not afraid of the Tartar." 
 
 " It may be something else." 
 
 " I'll risk it, anyhow. EflBe hkes me, 
 and from what I've seen of them, the 
 gipsies are not a bad sort. They will 
 give me shelter." 
 
 " Suppose Timor goes there to see his 
 uncle ? " suggested Owen. 
 
 "Then the game is up, and I shall 
 have to go somewhere else." 
 
 " Jack, don't do it. Danger is before 
 you. I speak as a friend." 
 
 " I know you do, Owen, and I respect 
 you for it," replied Jack. "But Mr. 
 Dryasdust shall not tyrannise over me, 
 or any other man. You know where to 
 find me. Come up after four." 
 
 " I'll come to-morrow," said Owen. 
 "Perhaps the gipsies won't have yo;i or 
 you may think better of it." 
 
64 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 "Not I. Once more, old fellow, fare- 
 well," replied Jack, jocularly. "It may 
 be for years, and it may be for ever; yet 
 if for ever, fare thee well." 
 
 Owen saw it was useless to try and 
 
 persuade him, and Jack left the house, 
 walking rapidly up town to seek 
 Effie among the gipsies, little caring 
 for whatever danger surrounded him 
 there. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 gunstock's danger. 
 
 Several times, as Jack was going up 
 the High Street of Eton, he had a 
 mind to turn back, but his obstinate 
 natm-e would not permit him. 
 
 He thought he was about to be un- 
 justly punished, and determined not to 
 submit to it. 
 
 Stopping at a confectioner's, he went 
 inside and made a hearty lunch of cakes, 
 tarts, and buns, filling up with an ice 
 and some stewed pears with cream. 
 
 " I shan't starve," he said, to himself, 
 *' and it's a good deal better than those 
 beastly old pheasants' eggs which got 
 me into all this trouble." 
 
 V\''alking on briskly again he soon 
 reached Windsor Park, and quitting the 
 Long Walk to avoid observation, dived 
 among the trees. 
 
 When he had traversed the park for 
 about the length of a mile, he met Gun- 
 stock, the keeper, who was leaning on 
 his gun, and contemplating the skin and 
 horns of a deer. 
 
 "Holloa, Gunstock!" cried Jack. 
 " What cheer ? " 
 
 "Little enough, sir," replied the 
 keeper. 
 
 " You look as melancholy as if you 
 had all the sins of the world on your 
 shoulders." 
 
 " Somebody's been a-killing of the 
 deer, and I can't find out who it is. My 
 opinion is that the gipsies does it, and 
 if I could only spot one of them, I'd 
 make it hot for them," said Gunstock, 
 savagely. 
 
 " ^^^lat would you do ? Lock him 
 up ? " 
 
 " That's no use," the keeper answered, 
 in a tone of disgust. " The Roosian 
 gang has got some friend at Court. I've 
 heard that the Roosian ambassador in- 
 terferes on their behalf." 
 
 ^' Really ? " 
 
 * Fact," Gunstock said. 
 
 " How do you know that ? " 
 
 " Well, I don't absolutely know it ; but 
 the other day I caught a gipsy with two 
 fine hares and I lugs him ofi" to the castle 
 for orders." 
 
 "WeU?" 
 
 "It wasn't well, it was bad. The 
 ranger sent word that I was to let him 
 go, and not interfere with the poor 
 gipsies in future." 
 
 " That is hard on you," said Jack. 
 
 " No matter ; I'll have it out of the 
 first one I catch a-doing anything. Look 
 at that skin and them horns." 
 
 " I see them." 
 
 " Very well. Is it in human nature, 
 especially a gamekeeper's human nature, 
 to stand that ? " 
 
 " I don't think I should like it." 
 
 "Like it, sir! You'd hate it quite as 
 much as I do. Why, much as I and my 
 daughter Sybil— her mother's dead, rest 
 her soul — like a bit of venison, I'd never 
 take the Uberty of killing so much as a 
 fawn, and it's only when the prince or 
 the royal dukes come to hunt, and I 
 have the quartering of the game, that a 
 few sUces of deer-meat find their way to 
 my table, yet those furriners, those con- 
 founded Roosian gipsies, can do as they 
 like." 
 
 " I think I can explain it," said Jack. 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " They have a friend at couii. Ivan, 
 the chief, is the brother of the most 
 important member of the Musco\ite 
 Embassy." 
 
 " Indeed ! Well, I'll Ivan him if I 
 catch him." 
 
 Gunstock gave the skin of the dee.* a 
 kick, as if to show what he would do to 
 the first live Russian who offended 
 him. 
 
 "WTiat brings you up here at this 
 time of the day, Master Dashley ? " asked 
 the keeper. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
OR, THE ADVEWTUHES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 67 
 
 " Oh, I don't know exactly," replied 
 Jack, evasively. 
 
 "I thought," continued Gunstock, 
 " that Eton boys weren't allowed out till 
 after twelve ? " 
 
 Jack wondered if he could trust the 
 keeper with his secret. 
 
 One glance at his open, honest coun- 
 tenance convinced him that he could. 
 
 " I've run away," he said, 
 
 Gunstock stared at him in surprise. 
 
 " What's that for," he demanded, " if 
 I may make so bold ? " 
 
 " I had a little trouble with my tutor, 
 and he wanted to have me flogged. He's 
 made a dead set at me. It's all spite, 
 and I would not submit to it." 
 
 " You don't look like a bad boy, sir." 
 
 " I'm not perfect, but I try to be as 
 good as I can." 
 
 "I don't hold with this flogging 
 system," said Gunstock, thoughtfully ; 
 " but I suppose the college masters know 
 best. It does not seem the right way to 
 treat a gentleman. What are you going 
 to do now ? " 
 
 " Try and find a shelter somewhere." 
 
 " My cottage is close by here," ex- 
 claimed Gunstock. "You can see the 
 smoke curling up through the trees. 
 Sybil is cooking a bit of dinner. It's 
 only a humble place, yet if you like to 
 come there I can give you a shake- 
 down." 
 
 Jack was touched by his liberality. 
 
 " Thank you very much," he answered. 
 " I am sure you would make me very 
 comfortable at your diggings." 
 
 " That I would, sir. Will you come ? " 
 
 " I am afraid I shall have to decline 
 at present, as I have another plan in 
 view," replied Jack. 
 
 " Just as you please. The door wiU 
 be always open to you." 
 
 He thought Gunstock looked the 
 least little bit annoyed at his refusal, 
 and he did not like to tell him that he 
 intended to ask the gipsies for shelter, 
 as the keeper hated them so cordially, 
 
 " Perhaps you may see me before 
 long, old man," he remarked. " There 
 is no telling." 
 
 Suddenly a fine buck shot through 
 the bushes and the ferns as if pursued 
 by some one, and in another moment a 
 large black hound was seen close at its 
 heels. 
 
 Directly afterwards a shot was heard. 
 
 and the deer leaped into the air, made a 
 few convulsive bounds, and fell down 
 dead. 
 
 " My word ! " cried Gunstock ; " who's 
 that ? " 
 
 Scarcely had the words escaped his 
 lips than the tall commanding form of 
 Ivan the gipsy appeared. 
 
 His gun was on his arm, and one 
 barrel still smoking, showed that it had 
 been recently discharged. 
 
 " How dare you shoot that stag ? '' 
 cried Gunstock, 
 
 "Ask me no questions and I'll teU 
 you no lies," replied Ivan, haughtily. 
 
 " Give up that gun," 
 
 Ivan smiled sarcastically, 
 
 " 'Which end will you have ? " be 
 asked, pointing significantly to the 
 muzzle. 
 
 " I am not at aU particular," answered 
 Gunstock. 
 
 Gunstock was quite angry, and his 
 face grew red. 
 
 Advancing to the gipsy, he extended 
 his hand as if to seize the gun, when 
 the Kussian slipped back. 
 
 " Beware ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 Gunstock threw his own gun on the 
 grass. 
 
 "An Englishman's as good as a 
 Russian any day," he said, " and perhaps 
 better. If I can't lock you up, I'll take 
 your weapon, and learn you to respect 
 my authority. I ain't been keeper here 
 goin' on seventeen years for nothing, I 
 can tell you." 
 
 Jack saw from Gunstock's determined 
 manner that there was going to be a 
 desperate struggle. 
 
 At the same time he thought of the 
 gipsy's warning the first time they had 
 met, and how pretty little Effie had 
 prophesied that the keeper would have 
 his blood shed before long. 
 
 " Take care ! " he said. 
 
 " Why should I take care ? Let him 
 look out for himself," Gunstock replied. 
 
 " Leave Ivan alone, I implore you," 
 
 "Not I," 
 
 Jack seized him by the arm, but the 
 herculean keeper cast him off as if he 
 had been a babe, and he went staggering 
 off until he fell some distance in the 
 ferns. 
 
 Then the keeper attacked the gipsy, 
 and as Jack regained his feet he saw 
 them engaged in a fierce contest. 
 
C8 
 
 XeS SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 Gunstock was determined to possess 
 himself of Ivan's weapon, and the latter 
 was equally resolved that he should not 
 have it. 
 
 They swayed to and fro like young 
 poplars in a storm. 
 
 It was impossible to decide on which 
 Fide the advantage lay, for they were 
 equnlly matched as regards strength. 
 
 The keeper had one arm round Ivan's 
 neck, and with the other he grasped the 
 muzzle of the gun. 
 
 All at once there was a report. 
 
 Jack could not see much more than 
 two misty, indistinct forms owing to the 
 smoke, but when that cleared ofif he 
 noticed that Gunstock's grip relaxed, 
 aud he fell to the ground with a deep 
 groan. 
 
 The gun had gone off during the 
 struggle, but whether Ivan had purposely 
 discharged it or not he could not say. 
 
 " Good heaven ! " he exclaimed, rush- 
 ■ ing to the spot, " you have killed him." 
 
 " It isn't so bad as that, I hope," 
 replied Ivan. " I don't want to be tried 
 for killing a rascally garde dc cliasse." 
 
 "I call it infamous," continued Jack. 
 
 " Don't say anything, Master Dashley," 
 remarked the keeper. " He did'nt do it 
 on purpose. I'll say that for him." 
 
 " How do you know ? " 
 
 " It was a pure accident. I saw how 
 hewasa-holding the gun, and he couldn't 
 have pulled the trigger if he had tried 
 to." 
 
 " Thank you ; this is more generous 
 than I expected," said Ivan. " And I 
 beg you, young gentleman, to remember 
 those words in case there should be an 
 inquest." 
 
 " I will do what is right," answered 
 Jack. 
 
 Gunstock groaned again as if he was 
 suffering extreme pain. 
 
 "I'm a square man," he went on, 
 •' aud I'll say "nothing agin nobody 
 but wliat's true. If I die it was an 
 accident." 
 
 Ivan stooped down and examined him 
 carefully. 
 
 " The charge has lodged in your 
 right shoulder, man," he said. " Vou 
 may lose your arm, but you will not die. 
 Where do you live ? " 
 
 " Hard by here. Oh, my poor girl 
 Sybil. It will be the death of her to 
 see her father brought home wounded. 
 
 Curse you and all your tribe. I'll be 
 revenged for this some day." 
 
 Ivan's only reply to this was to take 
 the burly keeper in his arms, making no 
 more ado of his hea\'y burden than if he 
 had been a child, and holding him ten- 
 derly, he carried him to the cottage, 
 Jack running on ahead. 
 
 There was a bedroom on the ground 
 floor, and he placed him on the bed 
 without any ceremony. 
 
 Hearing the noise of footsteps, a 
 pretty girl, quite young, rejoicing in a 
 wealth of raven-black hair, came out of 
 the kitchen. 
 
 «' Oh, my fether ! " she cried, wringing 
 her hands piteously. 
 
 " He has met with an accident. It is 
 nothing serious," replied Ivan, coolly. 
 
 Taking a towel, he bound it round the 
 arm, which was terribly shattered, and 
 so stopped the effusion of blood. 
 
 " Now send for a doctor," he added. 
 " I have no more time to spare." 
 
 Gunstock looked up and remarked — 
 
 " You have done what you could for 
 me, and I should have done the same for 
 you under the circumstances, but we are 
 none the less enemies. I've got my eye 
 on you and on Bill Silver." 
 
 At the mention of this name Ivan 
 started visibly. 
 
 It seemed to make a great impression 
 upon him. 
 
 " I do not know who you allude to," 
 he replied. 
 
 " Oh, yes, you do. You were hunting 
 with his hound to-day, and I have seen 
 you together frequently." 
 
 « Silver— Bill Silver ? " repeated the 
 Russian, abstractedly, as if trying to 
 remember some unknown or long-for- 
 gotten name. 
 
 " Yes, Bill Silver," answered Gun- 
 stock, " the biggest thief and poacher in 
 the whole of Windsor ; he keeps himself 
 out of the way now, but he's up to his 
 old tricks, I warrant. I've had him in 
 gaol before now, and I"ll have him 
 again." 
 
 '• Really, I am at a loss to understand 
 you." 
 
 " You're very innocent, you are," said 
 the keeper. "I '" 
 
 He paused abruptly. 
 
 An expression of acute suffering 
 crossed his features, and he closed his 
 eyes as if in a faint. 
 
OR, TEIE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 C9 
 
 Ivan cast a contemptuous look at him, 
 and without saying a word more quitted 
 the apartment, leaving the keeper, who 
 had really fainted, alone with his daughter 
 (jud Jack. 
 
 " Oh, sir," exclaimed Sybil, "will you 
 run into Old Windsor and bring a doctor ? 
 I am afraid my poor dear father will 
 die." 
 
 "Not he," answered Jack. "He is 
 worth a dozen dead men yet, my dear. 
 But I am awfully sorry I can't show 
 myself in the town. I am an Eton boy, 
 and have had a little bother with one of 
 the masters. It would not be good for 
 my health if they caught me." 
 
 Sybil began to cry. 
 
 " What shall I do ? " she said. 
 
 "Ill tell you," replied Jack. "You 
 go for the doctor, little woman, and I'U 
 mind the guv'nor." 
 
 " Will you really do that ? " 
 
 " With all the pleasure in the world, 
 and you can bet that I will prove as good 
 a nurse as you would be. Run along. 
 I'll keep house." 
 
 Sybil did not wait a moment. 
 
 Putting on her bonnet, she ran away, 
 and in an hour's time she returned with 
 a doctor, who examined his patient 
 carefully. 
 
 " Humph," he exclaimed, " I shall 
 have some trouble to extract the shot, 
 but I think we shall have him on his legs 
 again in a month or two at the outside. 
 The bone is not injured, that's one good 
 thing." 
 
 " Thank goodness," said Sybil. 
 
 "I must go now," observed Jack. 
 " There is nothing more I can do for you, 
 is there, little woman ? " 
 
 Sybil smiled for the first time. 
 
 "I like the idea of you calling me 
 little woman," she replied. 
 
 « So do I." 
 
 " You are onl^' a boy." 
 
 " An Eton boy though, and that means 
 
 half a man. Wouldn't you like to have 
 me for a sweetheart ? " 
 
 " I don't know. Perhaps I should," 
 Sybil replied, blushing. 
 
 " It is a pity I've got another girl," 
 said Jack. 
 
 Sybil pouted her lips. 
 
 " Then why do you talk to me ? " she 
 inquired. 
 
 "Just for fun, little woman," Jack 
 replied. 
 
 "Then I don't like you a little bit, 
 though I thought I did at first." 
 
 " Come and see me to the door." 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "I want to speak to you," Jack 
 exclaimed. 
 
 The doctor was busily engaged in 
 examining the keeper's arm for the shots 
 which had lodged in the flesh, and Sybil 
 slipped out after Jack. 
 
 "Now what is it?" she said as she 
 stood in the porch. " j\Iake haste, please. 
 I can't leave poor papa long." 
 
 " Come nearer. I want to whisper." 
 
 " WTiisper what ? " 
 
 " Never you mind ; come closer," Jack 
 insisted. 
 
 Sybil came close to him. 
 
 He put his arm round her waist and 
 imprinted a hearty kiss upon her lips. 
 
 It was lucky for him that he retreated 
 immediately, for she raised her hand and 
 would have given him a box on the 
 ear. 
 
 " Oh, you wretch ! I'll pay you," she 
 cried. 
 
 " Good-bye, little woman," he replied. 
 " Ta-ta, tra-la-la ; come and see you 
 again soon." 
 
 Sybil, half crying with vexation, 
 retired into the cottage, and Jack, whist- 
 Ung gaily, went on his way. 
 
 He had not gone more than a dozen 
 yards before he saw standing perfectly 
 still among the ferns a form he well 
 I knew. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 IN THE gipsies' CAjMP. 
 
 " Wqy, Effie, is it you ? " he exclaimed. 
 " I am glad." 
 
 The httle gipsy girl did not smile or 
 
 extend her hand in token of frienrUbip 
 as she usually did. 
 
 " l-'or why are you glad ? " she asked. 
 
TOE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON 
 
 " To muet you." 
 
 EfiBe smiled scornfully. 
 
 "If you like me as you say," she 
 replied, "why did you kiss that hateful 
 girl who has just gone into the cottage?" 
 
 " Kiss her ! Did I kiss her ? " stammered 
 Jack, in some confusion. 
 
 " I have ej'es. I was standing here. 
 I saw you." 
 
 " Well yes, now I come to think of it," 
 replied Jack, " I think I did kiss her ; 
 but it was only for a lark. I did not 
 mean anything. You are the only girl 
 [ ever lo\*ed, Effie, and I'm very sorry I 
 spoke to Sybil at all." 
 
 " I hate Sybil. Come away ; I want 
 to talk to you," said the gipsy girl. 
 
 They walked together in the silent 
 glades of the forest and took the direc- 
 tion of the camp of the gipsies. 
 
 "First of all, Jack of Eton," said 
 EflSe, " what are you here for ? " 
 
 Jack explained to her all that happened, 
 and told her how Ivan and Gunstock had 
 quarelled, that being the cause of his 
 \isiting the cottage, so that he never had 
 seen Sybil before. 
 
 The little gipsy expressed herself 
 satisfied. 
 
 " You can't like her and me too," she 
 remarked; "but as you have told me 
 the truth you may come to our tents and 
 live with us." 
 
 Jack was delighted at the permission. 
 
 His spirits rose, and he thought it was 
 quite charming to live a life under the 
 greenwood tree and be the friend and 
 companion of the gipsies. 
 
 What they lived on he did not know, 
 but when they were cooking, a savoury 
 smell always rose from the pots and 
 kettles. 
 
 He was equally in the dark as to 
 whether they had such luxuries as knives, 
 forks, and plates, but sometimes it is fun 
 to rough it. 
 
 In half-an-hour they reached the 
 camp. 
 
 Effie left Jack to go into Ivan's tent 
 and make an application for Jack to stay 
 with them. 
 
 Presently Jack heard loud talking. 
 
 Effie quitted the tent first, followed 
 by I van and Timor, whom Jack was very 
 much surprised to see. 
 
 Timor looked very angry, and his face 
 was red. 
 
 " (fo away," he cried, addressing Effie, 
 
 "and remember that I am master 
 here." 
 
 " You are a coward," replied Effie. 
 
 He took a few rapid paces towards 
 her. 
 
 "WHiat am I?" he asked, all the 
 brutal violence in his Russian blood 
 appearing in his tones and eyes. 
 
 " A coward," she answered calmly, 
 
 Ivan interposed. 
 
 " Be calm, both of you," he said. 
 
 " She has insulted me," replied Timor. 
 
 " You advised Ivan to refuse the re- 
 quest that I made to him to the effect 
 that Jack of Eton might hide with us, 
 and I told you I would have it so. You 
 are not one of us." 
 
 " Yes I am to a certain extent." 
 
 " Well, well," exclaimed Ivan, trjring 
 to throw oil on the troubled waters, " Jack 
 shall not stay." 
 
 " But I want him to," persisted Effie. 
 
 "Then you will have to want," said 
 Timor; "go to your tent, and never 
 interfere with me again." 
 
 " I am not afraid of you while Jack of 
 Eton is here," replied Effie. 
 
 This speech enraged Timor still more, 
 and, regardless of the consequences, he 
 drew his favourite knout from his pocket. 
 
 With this he struck her a severe blow 
 over the shoulders, and her frock being 
 very thin, it broke the skin, drawing 
 blood. 
 
 " Oh, you have hurt me ! " she cried. 
 
 "I meant to," he answered with a 
 complacent smile. 
 
 His self-satisfaction was short lived, 
 for Jack, who had been an impatient 
 spectator of the scene, rushed forward. 
 
 "Mind yourself, you big overgrown 
 Russian bidly," he exclaimed. 
 
 Timor turned, and tried to put him- 
 self on his guard. 
 
 It was too late, however, for Jack dealt 
 him a blow which sent him spinning 
 down the hill, finally sending him to 
 grass in the valley below. 
 
 Effie clung tenderly to Jack's arm. 
 
 " You will not let him hurt me again," 
 she exclaimed. 
 
 " Not if I know it, little girl," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 " That is right. He is cruel enough 
 for anything." 
 
 Hearing the noise, the gipsies came 
 out of their tents. 
 
 Timor soon picked himself up, anH 
 
OR, TOE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CUUMS. 
 
 71 
 
 adwincing up the hill, unbuttoned his 
 jacket, displaying a handsome cross 
 studded with diamonds. 
 
 It was evidently the badge of some 
 secret order, and all those who saw it 
 were obliged to obey the wearer. 
 
 He addressed the crowd in the Russian 
 language, pointing to Jack. 
 
 Then he concluded in English — 
 
 " Seize him. Tie him to a tree. He 
 shall taste of the knout for daring to 
 strike a Russian nobleman." 
 
 To his intense surprise, Jack was in- 
 stantly set upon by the gipsies, who tore 
 him away from EflSe, and bound his 
 arms. 
 
 Ivan looked on, and made no opposi- 
 tion, as if perfectly willing to let his 
 uephew, Timor, have his own way in such 
 
 a small matter as that of knouting any- 
 body. 
 
 " Release me ! " cried Jack, struggling. 
 
 The gipsies replied with loud laughter. 
 
 " Is this the boasted hospitality of the 
 Gitanos ? " continued Jack. " I came 
 here for refuge, and you are treating 
 me like a dog." 
 
 They bore him to a tree, and lashed 
 him to it, so that he could not move. 
 
 Timor now approached with his knout 
 in his hand. 
 
 " I'll warm you, my boy," he cried. 
 
 ♦' Will you ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Yes. I'll show you how we do it in 
 Russia." 
 
 Raising the knout, it swished through 
 the air, and descended with a dull thud 
 on Jack's back. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 MR. AND JIRS. BENJAMIN SODA HAVE A LITTLE PICmC. 
 
 Effie reddened when she saw Timor 
 attack her friend Jack. 
 
 The little gipsy was good-hearted, and 
 she did not like to have him ill-treated. 
 
 " The cowardly Tartar ; " she cried. 
 
 Then she rushed into a tent and 
 possessed herself of a long sharp-bladed 
 knife. 
 
 Advancing to Timor as the knout was 
 falling for the third time on Jack's 
 defenceless back, she exclaimed, loudly — 
 
 " Stand back ! " 
 
 " Not for you," he repUed. 
 
 " We shall see," Effie added, with a 
 menacing gesture. 
 
 " Oh, you can't frighten me," Timor 
 exclaimeMi ; " I'm not an infent." 
 
 With one blow she cut the ropes which 
 bound Jack, and he was free. 
 
 Timor was furious with rage, and 
 actually foamed at the mouth with 
 passion. 
 
 " Seize him again ! " he exclaimed. 
 " I will not be baulked in this way." 
 
 Effie waved the gipsies back. 
 
 " You shall not touch him," she said. 
 " I swear by the Holy Cross that I wiU 
 kill the first one who lays his hand on 
 Jack of Eton." 
 
 The men knew her resolute temper, 
 and were evidently intimidated, for they 
 hesitated to advance. 
 
 " Seize him, I say ! " roared Timor. 
 
 There was no response. 
 
 " Ivanowitch," continued Timor, " am 
 I to be thwarted like this ? " 
 
 " I cannot interfere," replied Ivan. 
 
 "You are my uncle. This boy has 
 insulted our femily in my person, and 
 you are as much interested in having 
 him punished as myself." 
 
 "Effie must have her way." 
 
 " Our honour should be vindicated, 
 uncle." 
 
 " Another time. The girl has taken 
 him under her protection. Let him go," 
 said Ivan carelessly. 
 
 Timor ground his teeth savagely 
 together and stamped his foot upon the 
 ground. 
 
 " By heaven, I will be terribly revenged 
 for this," he exclaimed. 
 
 Effie took Jack by the hand and led 
 him down the hilL 
 
 " Run," she said ; " if they catch you 
 again I may not be able to save you. 
 Keep away from Timor." 
 
 " You can go ' nap ' on that," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 " What ! " 
 
 " I mean 111 take your advice, little 
 woman, and give him a wide berth, 
 though I did want to stay with your 
 tribe." 
 
72 
 
 TDE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON 
 
 " Not now. Get out of the forest," 
 she urged. 
 
 Jack was puzzled at this request. 
 " So you said before," he remarked. 
 " But why shjould I ? " 
 " You are in danger." 
 " Explain how, and in what way ? " he 
 queried. 
 
 " I cannot. I must not say anything 
 more. You do not know the secrets of 
 this place as well as I do. I have heard 
 
 them talk of you, and " 
 
 She paused abruptly. 
 " Well, go on," said Jack. 
 " It is impossible. Leave at once, I 
 implore you ; your life even may be in 
 danger." 
 
 "Kubbish," excliiimed Jack.- "I'm 
 not so easily frightened, though I'm 
 much obliged to you, my dear, for your 
 friendly advice, which I assure you is 
 taken in the spii'it in which it is given. 
 Good-bye." 
 
 " You will go home, won't you ? " 
 " I can't promise that. Perhaps I 
 shall go to tlie keeper's cottage." 
 
 "Where Sybil is?" asked Effie, a 
 shade of jealousy crossing her face. 
 
 "Yes, but you wouldn't like that. 
 I'll think of something else. Ta-ta." 
 
 They shook hands, and he was walking 
 off, when Timor shouted after him. 
 
 "Dashley," he said, "you have run 
 away. I have got leave for the day, 
 but when I go back I'll tell my tutor 
 where you are, and if I can't thrash 
 you, the head master shall." 
 " Sneak ! " replied Jack. 
 " What if I am ? It will be a pleasure 
 to get you whij^ped. Ha, ha ! That is 
 where my revenge will come in." 
 " Oh, go to Putney," Jack answered. 
 He quitted the spot, feeling the con- 
 tempt which he had always had for 
 Timor increase tenfold. 
 
 It was a lovely day, and his spirits 
 rose as he wandered along between the 
 stately trees, though there was nothing 
 in his circumstances to make him feel 
 
 gay- 
 
 If he went back to college he was 
 sure to get punished, and if he remained 
 away he did not know where to hide 
 himself, unless he went to Gunstock's 
 cottage. 
 
 He was in an embarrassing situation. 
 
 All at once he came upon a sequestered 
 glade, in the midst of which was a large 
 
 pond, the surface of which was dotted 
 with water lilies. 
 
 It was just the spot that a lover of 
 nature would select for a picnic. 
 
 " I think I'll rest here and put on my 
 thinking-cap," said Jack to himself. 
 
 He Btit down at the foot of a moss- 
 covered tree. 
 
 Scarcely had he ensconced himself in 
 the snug position than he heard voices 
 coming in his direction. 
 
 " Come on, Benjamin," exclaimed the 
 voice of a woman. 
 
 " I am coming as quick as I can," re- 
 plied a man, "only this confounded 
 basket's heavy, I can tell you." 
 
 " What poor creatures you men are. 
 You're always grumbling." I declare I 
 hate to come out with you anywhere." 
 
 "How would you like to lug this 
 basket about ? " 
 
 "It's not a woman's place, Mr. 
 Soda." 
 
 *' I wish it was, 3Irs. Soda." 
 By this time Jack ha(f discovered that 
 the persons approaching were Mr. and 
 Mrs. Soda, who had evidently resolved 
 to have a day's outing " under the green- 
 wood tree." 
 
 It was their intention to picnic in the 
 forest. 
 
 For this purpose they had packed a 
 basket full of good things, and this, 
 with much toil and trouble, Mr. Soda 
 had carried all the way from Datchet. 
 
 " I can't go any further," said Soda. 
 " Seems to me that my arms are being 
 dragged out of their sockets." 
 
 " You poor miserable worm," replied 
 his better half. 
 " What am I ?" 
 
 " A worm ; nothing more or less." 
 " I wish I was dead," said the wretched 
 man. " Your constant nagging is enough 
 to drive a man silly." 
 
 Mrs. Soda pointed to the pond. 
 " Drown yourself," she replied. " You'll 
 be no loss." 
 
 Jack was very much amused at this 
 colloquy, and kejit himself hidden, so 
 as not to appear until the repast was 
 spread out. 
 
 " Have another drop of gin, my deal," 
 answered Soda. " It'll make j'our sweet 
 temper a trifle sweeter." 
 
 " You wretch. I'll beat you more for 
 that than anything " she cried. 
 
 " Gently over the stones, my pet^. 
 
OR, TBE ADVENTUItES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 73 
 
 What are the words of the poet — ' Let 
 not your angry passions rise and ' " 
 
 " He quiet with your rubbishing quo- 
 tations," she interrupted. 
 
 Breaking off a switch from a tree she 
 advanced towards him, and began to 
 beat him. 
 
 " Leave ofif 'Ria," he exclaimed. " I'll 
 commit suicide in that pond if you 
 don't." 
 
 " You're too much of a coward." 
 
 " I will do it — for what are the words 
 of the poet — ' We may meet in the 
 sweet by-and-bye.' Oh, oh ! Lay it on 
 lightly, 'Ria." 
 
 She grew tired of thrashing him, and 
 pointed to the water. 
 
 " Do it," she said. 
 
 " I will," he answered. " There must 
 be an end to this life of misery. You 
 have made existence an insupportable 
 burden to me." 
 
 " That's what you say." 
 
 " It is true. The time has come when 
 I will shuffle off this mortal coil, for 
 what are the words of the poet ?" 
 
 " Bother the poet. Don't threaten me 
 with suicide. Let me see you do 
 it." 
 
 " You shall," replied Sir. Soda with a 
 tragic air. 
 
 " Noue of your nonsense now." 
 
 He took a run towards the pond, but 
 stopped short on the brink. 
 
 " Old Brandy and Soda has got the 
 pluck to do it," thought Jack. 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " laughed his wife, " I said 
 you were a coward. You were humbugg- 
 ing me. I'll beat you more for that than 
 anything." 
 
 " My dear," replied IMr. Soda, " it is 
 time that I lack the moral courage to 
 carry my plan into operation, but " 
 
 He paused. 
 
 " What ?" she asked. 
 
 " I will stand here on the edge and 
 you shall come behind and push me in. 
 Never shall you wish me dead and tell 
 me so again." 
 
 " Very well," answered Mrs. Soda. 
 " Stand still ; I'll push you, and when 
 you're drowned, I will go home and 
 marry the baker." 
 
 " Ha ! " cried her husband, " it is as I 
 thought." 
 
 " Didn't you know he admired me ?" 
 
 " No matter ; you shall marry the 
 baker. Adieu to life. What are the 
 
 words of the poet — 'Farewell, a long 
 farewell to all my greatness.' " 
 
 Mrs. Soda had evidently been drinking 
 heavily, and it seemed to Jack as if she 
 did not quite know what she was doing. 
 
 If she had been in her proper senses 
 it is not likely that she would want to 
 drown her husband, unless she was a 
 worse woman than he took her to be. 
 
 " Now then, look out," she exclaimed. 
 
 " Ready," he replied. " Take a good 
 run. Good-bye, 'Ria." 
 
 " Good-bye," she answered. 
 
 Jack saw Mr. Soda look over his 
 shoulder, and fancied he detected a 
 merry twinkle in his eyes. 
 
 The wife began to run with her arms 
 outstretched, and her pace increased at 
 every step she took. 
 
 When she reached her husband she 
 made an energetic push at his back; 
 but she had reckoned without her 
 host. 
 
 He stepped nimbly on one side. 
 
 She found nothing to impede her pro- 
 gress, and being unable to stop herself, 
 plunged head first into the pond. 
 
 It was quite eight or ten feet deep in 
 that particular spot, and she floundered 
 about, screaming wildly, until she got 
 hold of a board which held her up. 
 
 The board was luckily floating on the 
 surface, or she would have sunk like a 
 stone. 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Mr. Soda. 
 " "Water nice and cool, my dear ? " 
 
 " Oh, you horrid old beast ! " she re- 
 plied. 
 
 "He, he, he!" 
 
 " You did it on purpose, and I'll beat 
 you more for that than anything else." 
 
 " I rather think I did, my love. You 
 didn't think I was quite such a flat and 
 a simpleton as to let you shove me into 
 the water, swimming not being one of 
 my accomplishments." 
 
 " Help me out, you wretch." 
 
 " Not much. I shall look on and see 
 you drown."' 
 
 " Vile creature ! " 
 
 " It is only tit for tat, my sweet." 
 
 " You call yourself a man," exclaimed 
 Mrs. Soda, " and can stand there and 
 gloat over my dying agonies." 
 
 " Gloat is precisely the word, my 
 dear." 
 
 " Brute that you are, let me only get 
 
74 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 at you. ni beat you more for that than 
 
 anything." 
 
 " But you will not get out, my angel," 
 replied Mr. Soda. " I have a firm con- 
 viction that you will soon sink. What 
 are the words of the poet — ' She who 
 is bom to be drowned will never be 
 hanged.' " 
 
 "You desen'e to be hanged. Oh, 
 Benjamin," she added changing her 
 tone, "save me; I have been a good 
 wife to you." 
 
 At this declaration Mr. Soda went 
 into convulsions of laughter, which 
 threatened to choke him. 
 
 " Ho, ho, ho ! ha, ha, ha ! he, he, he ! " 
 he roared, placing his hands on his knees. 
 
 " Save me, save me ! " 
 
 " It is out of my power, my love, for 
 as I previously remarked, I am imable 
 to swim. It is one of the branches of my 
 education which was neglected in my 
 youthful days." 
 
 "I'll never beat you again." 
 
 " That is precisely my opinion, for you 
 will never have the chance, my love. 
 For once, you see, we agree." 
 
 Mr. Soda assumed quite a gay and 
 festive air. 
 
 "I — I won't marry the baker," she 
 continued. 
 
 "That is lucky for the baker my 
 precious one." 
 
 " Oh, Benjamin, I'll turn over a new 
 leaf, indeed I will." 
 
 As she said this her hand sUpped from 
 the board, and she plumped right over, 
 disappearing under the water. 
 
 " Humph ! " said Mr. Soda, " what are 
 the words of the poet — ' Though lost to 
 sight to memory dear.' " 
 
 When she came up again she spluttered 
 and coughed and choked, blowing Uke an 
 exhausted grampus, or a bottle-nosed 
 whale in a fit. 
 
 " Ha ! she appears again in the arena." 
 remarked Mr. Soda. " Always was a very 
 energetic and persevering woman." 
 
 She again clutched the board and kept 
 her head above water. 
 
 " Benjamin," she gasped, " would you 
 have my death on your mind ? This is 
 nothing more or less than murder." 
 
 " No, my dear, oh dear no ; it is suicide. 
 I did not push you into the water. You 
 jumped in of your own accord. It would 
 have been murder if you had worked your 
 wicked will on me," he replied. 
 
 " Get a stick and hold out one end to 
 me, Benny, darling." 
 
 " Eh ? Say that again." 
 
 " Benny, darling," she repeated." 
 
 " \Miy, hless me, you haven't sitnkeii 
 to me like that for twenty years 'Hia. 
 What are the words of the poet — * Twas 
 ever thus in childhood's hour.' I never 
 loved a bird or flower but it was sure to 
 fall into the water and get drowned." 
 
 " I'm sinking ; Iv'e got cramps, Ben ! " 
 cried Mrs. Soda. " Get me out quick, or 
 it will be all up with me." 
 
 " Farewell, my love. I'll cut oflF a lock 
 of your hair when the body is recovered." 
 
 Mrs. Soda's face assumed a ghastly 
 hue ; she turned up her eyes like a dying 
 duck in a thunderstorm, and really ap- 
 peared as if she was going to sink. 
 
 Her husband thought the joke had 
 gone far enough. 
 
 He did not really intend her to be 
 drowned, but only wanted to punish her 
 for her bad temper, and teach her a 
 lesson which might induce her to behave 
 better to him. 
 
 Looking around he picked up a long 
 stick, and held it out to her. 
 
 She grasped it with the energy of de- 
 spair, and was gradually pulled to land. 
 
 Jack saw her begin to climb up the 
 bank, and feeling that she was safe, he 
 determined to make hay while the sun 
 shone. 
 
 He rushed towards the hamper which 
 contained the good things intended for 
 the picnic, and, without being perceived, 
 carried it some distance. 
 
 A secluded spot being reached, he set 
 it down and opened it. 
 
 Quite a tempting display of delicacies 
 was revealed. 
 
 Cold fowl and ham, lamb and mint 
 sauce, half a sucking-pig, tarts and 
 cakes, with other good things, greeted 
 his ravished gaze. 
 
 " I'm in luck," he said. " Hurrah ! I 
 shan't starve in the forest, if I have run 
 away from school, and the gipsies won't 
 have me. Bravo! my luck's dead in, 
 when I thought it was clean gone." 
 
 He spread out the feast, wishing that 
 his chum Owen was with him to enjoy it, 
 and found at the bottom of the basket 
 two bottles of champagne, one of whisky, 
 and some beer. 
 
 Losing no time he fell to, and began 
 to eat ravenously. 
 
OR. TUE ADVENTUKES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 75 
 
 After a time he felt thirsty, and taking 
 up a bottle of "sparkling" he popped the 
 cork. 
 . Pop ! 
 
 The sound found an echo amid the 
 trees. ; n 1 to his consternation he heard 
 a voice. 
 
 " Here's the thief. Come on Benny," 
 exclaimed Mrs. Soda ; " Iv'e found him." 
 
 " Where, my dear ! " 
 
 " Right here." 
 
 Jack groaned inwardly, for he knew he 
 was in for it. 
 
 Mrs. Soda, followed by her husband, 
 now appeared upon the scene, and 
 shaking a stick which she used to walk 
 with, glared at him. 
 
 She was somewhat damp, and the 
 water dripped from her. 
 
 Occasionly she shivered. 
 
 Her hair had escaped from the net in 
 which she wore it, and draggled over her 
 shoulders. 
 
 Added to this, that her face was dis- 
 torted with rage, it may be readily 
 imagined that she was not a very fasci- 
 nating spectacle. 
 
 " Oh, you little vampire ! " she cried. 
 
 " That's me, ma'am," replied Jack. 
 
 " You're nothing better than a robber." 
 
 " So am I." 
 
 " 111 give you something." 
 
 " Thank you ; it isn't necessary," said 
 Jack calmly. "I'm helping myself, as 
 you see. Capital pig, fine fowl, rattling 
 good wine. Your health mum." 
 
 She was paralysed at his audacity. 
 
 " The cheek of him, Ben," she said. 
 " Oh, I'll beat him more for that than 
 anything." 
 
 Mr. Soda extended his hand. 
 
 " Stay, my love," he replied. " I know 
 this young gentleman ; he is one of my 
 private pupils — Dashley, or I'm mis- 
 taken." 
 
 " That's right enough, exclaimed Jack. 
 " Sit down and join me. Here's enough 
 for all." 
 
 " Well I never," said Mrs. Soda. 
 
 " Did yon ever ? " observed Mr. Soda. 
 
 " Can't I beat him ? " asked she. 
 
 " No, my dear. Not this time. He Ib 
 
 a pupil, and I cannot afford to offend 
 him. Let him off this time. You 
 promised to be good." 
 
 Mrs. Soda tried to master her rage, but 
 she could not do it. 
 
 " No matter what I promised. I'll take 
 it out of him," she cried. 
 
 " Hush, my dear. What are the words 
 of the poet — ' A soft answer turneth away 
 wi-ath.' " 
 
 He attempted to grasp her arm, but 
 she shook him off and ran towards Jack. 
 
 " I'll let him have it," she said. 
 
 Jack thought it only prudent to clear 
 out, and he accordingly got up and made 
 tracks as quickly as he could. 
 
 But he did not go empty handed. 
 
 In one hand he had half a fowl, and in 
 the other a bottle of champagne, which 
 he thought would revive his drooping 
 spirits. 
 
 He being fleet of foot, it was useless 
 for Mrs. Soda to attempt to follow him, 
 and she directed her ill-temper upon her 
 unfortunate husband, whom she soundly 
 belaboured witK^ a stick. 
 
 *' Oh, you mean thing ! " she exclaimed. 
 "Why don't you stop him? I'll beat 
 you more for that than anything." 
 
 Whack, whack ! Thump, thump ! 
 
 " Easy does it, my dear," replied Mr. 
 Soda. " What are the words of the poet — 
 * If I had a donkey and he wouldn't go, 
 do you think I'd woUop him ? oh dear, 
 no ! ' " 
 
 Jack did not wait to hear any more. 
 
 He ran for half-a-mile, and then 
 finished his repast, drinking as much as 
 he wanted of the champagne, and then 
 prepared to throw the bottle away. 
 
 Looking up he found he was in front 
 of Heme's oak. 
 
 " Halloa ! " he said ; "when I cut away 
 from Mrs. Brandy and Soda I didn't 
 know that I was going in this direction 
 I'll have a shy at the oak." 
 
 He flung the bottle at the tree. 
 
 It struck it with a duU hollow sound, 
 and broke into a dozen or more pieces. 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed a wQd un- 
 earthly voice. 
 
 Jack trembled from head to foot. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OK JACK AT ETON; 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 IN THE CAVE. 
 
 It was difficult for Jack Dashley to 
 account for the nervous trepidation 
 with which he was seized on hearing 
 this strange mocking sepulchral laugh- 
 ter, unless it was totally different from 
 anything that he had ever heard be- 
 fore. 
 
 That there was something mysterious 
 about the tree he did not doubt. 
 
 He had not forgotton how strangely 
 Timor had disappeared in its hidden 
 recesses. 
 
 Inflamed with the wine he had drunk, 
 he went close to the tree and peered into 
 its naked branches. 
 
 " Who is there ? " he demanded. 
 
 Again the weird laughter echoed 
 through the woodland, seeming to come 
 from all parts at once. ^ 
 
 He gazed round him in confusion. 
 
 Whether it was his fancy or not, he 
 could not tell, but he imagined he saw 
 a dim and shadowy form flitting about 
 among the trees. 
 
 This form strangely resembled Timor. 
 
 Bewildered and angry, he once more 
 concentrated his gaze upon the tree, and 
 saw the fantastic form of Heme the 
 Hunter. 
 
 There was the wild unkempt head of 
 long straggling hair, surmounted by the 
 horns ; the eyes glowed like live coals ; 
 
 the body was encased in a tight-fitting 
 black garb, and one arm was extended, 
 as if beckoning him. 
 
 Unable to restrain his impatient curi- 
 osity, Jack ran to the tree and climbed 
 into the branches, as Timor had done on 
 a former occasion. 
 
 "Ho, ho, ho!" laughed the demon 
 hunter. 
 
 Jack had rushed upon his fate. 
 
 The form of Heme sank slowly into 
 the hollow body of the tree, but ere it 
 entirely disappeared from view, the long 
 arms encircled Jack's neck. 
 
 A terrible grip nearly choked him ; bis 
 breath came at intervals in long spas- 
 modic gasps, and as his tongue protruded 
 from his mouth and his eyes started 
 from their sockets, he thought his last 
 hour had come. 
 
 He gave himself up for lost. 
 
 The repeated waming of little Effie 
 came to his mind, and he wished he had 
 not been so rash as to put himself in the 
 power of Heme. 
 
 Down he went, seemingly into the 
 bowels of the earth. 
 
 Wliither he was going he had no idea, 
 nor was he long able to speculate on the 
 question, as the deathlike grip tightened 
 on his throat, and he became uncon- 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 JACK'S CHUM GETS DJTO TEOUBLE. 
 
 Jack Dashley's disappearance from his 
 usual place in school was quickly dis- 
 covered, and on inquiries being made, he 
 was nowhere to be found. 
 
 His tutor made a search for him, but 
 he had not been seen since breakfast, and 
 the only conclusion that the authorities 
 could come to was that he had run away 
 to avoid punishment. 
 
 The head master was communicated 
 with, and he felt very much annoyed, as 
 it rarely happened that a boy ran away. 
 
 When such a thing did occur it was 
 
 regretted by the masters, because it set 
 a bad example to the other boys. 
 
 Great excitement prevailed. 
 
 Mr, Dryasdust related all that had 
 occurred to the head master, who shook 
 his head. 
 
 " I am afraid you were a little hasty," 
 he exclaimed. 
 
 "Why so?" replied Mr. Dryasdust. 
 " He is a cm-ious boy,' and I shall never 
 be persuaded that he did not destroy my 
 book, which, as you know, was the labour 
 of half a lifetime." 
 
I, THE AD\-E^TUKES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 *' Yes, yes. I am aware of all that, and 
 I sympathise as deeply with you in your 
 misfortune as is possible, yet I can see 
 that the circumstance has created a 
 prejudice in your mind against the 
 boy. 
 
 "I hope not." 
 
 "Indeed it ia so, without j-oa being 
 aware of it," replied the head master. 
 
 " I fancied that I was more strong- 
 minded than that, yet I will admit that 
 I had made up my mind to have Dash- 
 ley whipped the tirst time I caught him 
 tripping." 
 The head master smiled. 
 " There it is. You have confessed to 
 the ' animus,' and I am sorry you did uot 
 consult me before threatening him." 
 
 " But surely, sir," said Mr. Dryasdust, 
 "you do not defend his conduct in going 
 into my private garden, entering my 
 pheasantr}-, and taking the eggs for his 
 own breakfast ? " 
 
 "No, I do not; yet the offence is not 
 so bad as lying or incorrigible idleness. 
 It might, in the case of a high-spirited 
 boy, have been looked over altogether." 
 " Perhaps you are right, though it is 
 too late to retrace our steps. The boy 
 must be found and brought back." 
 
 " Yes, replied the head master ; " and 
 when we get him, I shall have no 
 alternative but to flog him as an exam- 
 ple. This kind of thing is catching, and 
 we shall have many more boys running 
 away if we are too lenient. Have you 
 telegraphed to his friends ? " 
 
 " Yes, and his father says he has not 
 come home." 
 
 " Strange," mused the doctor. 
 " I think he is hiding somewhere in 
 the neighbourhood," hazarded Mr. Dry- 
 asdust. 
 
 " Possibly. Has he any friends ? " 
 "One very particular chum, Owen 
 Tudor." 
 
 " Humph ! Did you question him ? " 
 " I have not done so yet," answered 
 Mr. Dryasdust. 
 
 " Pray do so at once. It was an 
 omission on your part. Dashley is not 
 likely to have run away from Eton with- 
 out telling his chum where he went 
 to." 
 
 This view of the case struck Mr. 
 Dryasdust as being very reasonable, and 
 he wondei'ed he had not thought of it 
 before." | 
 
 "I will do so. But suppose" said he, 
 " that Tudor will not speak ? " 
 
 The conversation was taking place in 
 the doctor's room in the upper school, 
 and on a table was lying a birch, with 
 which some unfortunate had been whip- 
 ped that morning, for Eton is a great 
 school for corporal punishment, and 
 scarcely a day passes without one or two 
 birch ings taking place. 
 
 "That will induce him to talk," 
 answered the doctor. 
 
 It was now ]Mr. Dryasdust's turn to 
 smile. 
 
 " Are you not contradicting your own 
 theory ? " he said, " in speaking of 
 punishing a boy harshly? Suppose 
 Tudor runs away ? " 
 
 "Ah, well," replied the doctor, "this 
 is a different case. Desperate diseases 
 require desperate remedies. Go and 
 interview Tudor, and if he will not give 
 you any information about Dashley, send 
 him to me after three o'clock school. 
 The birch is a great persuader." 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust went away to act on the 
 advice or rather the instructions of the 
 head master. 
 
 It may seem that the latter was some- 
 what harsh, and did not think any more 
 of punishing Owen than Owen would 
 have thought of killing a fly. 
 
 But it must be remembered that cruel 
 punishments are delivered at all our 
 public schools, and that it has been the 
 custom for centuries. 
 
 When an Eton boy himself, the doctor 
 had submitted to the discipline, and 
 since he had succeeded to the high posi- 
 tion he held, he had on innumer- 
 able occasions used the birch, thinlcing 
 nothing of it. 
 
 It was only when Jack had run away 
 to avoid it that he began to imagine 
 that there was something wi-ong in the 
 system. 
 
 It is to be hoped that with the spread 
 of civilization the barbarous practice of 
 whipping boys will be done away with. 
 
 All right-minded people must hold 
 that it is a relic of feudalism, transmitted 
 to us from the middle ages. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust walked straight to Owen 
 Tudor's room, where he found him en- 
 gaged in writing a copy of Latin 
 verses. 
 
 Directly he saw his tutor Owen guessed 
 the nature of his business. 
 
78 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT KTON: 
 
 "Take a seat, sir," he said, politely 
 offering him a chair. 
 
 " Thank you," replied Mr. Dryasdust, 
 Bitting down. "It is a bad business 
 about Dashley absenting himself from 
 school." 
 
 " He has run away," exclaimed Owen, 
 " and I am very sorry that he will not 
 come back." 
 
 " Yes. You were a great friend of his, 
 I believe, for I used to see you always 
 together, like the Siamese twins." 
 
 "We were great chums, sir," said 
 Owen, " and I am proud of it. Jack is 
 a good-hearted boy, and I don't believe 
 there is a better in the school." 
 
 " Humph ! We differ there." 
 
 " How 1 do miss him," continued Owen. 
 "If it hadn't been for Timor, I don't 
 think he would have run away." 
 
 " What in the world had Timor to do 
 with it?" 
 
 " He is Jack's enemy. They cordially 
 detest one another. Timor has an uncle 
 a gipsy, and Jack found it out." 
 
 "Nonsense. Timor belongs to a 
 highly respectable and influential 
 Eussian family. Dashley should not 
 have spread such injurious reports." 
 
 " They are true, for I have seen the 
 gipsies, who are now in Windsor Park, 
 and Timor has done all he can to injure 
 Jack ever since," answered Owen. " In 
 fact, he has succeeded in setting you 
 against him." 
 
 " Oh no ! I was a little annoyed when 
 my book was burnt, and I thought 
 Dashley did it for " 
 
 Owen indignantly interrupted him. 
 
 " Let me say a word for the absent, 
 sir," he exclaimed. " I'll swear Jack 
 did not do it." 
 
 " That is very positive language. If 
 Dashley was not the guilty party, who 
 was ? " 
 
 " Timor himself. It was a deep-laid 
 plot of the Russian." 
 
 " Can you prove that?" 
 
 " Unfortunately I cannot," said Owen, 
 **but it is true nevertheless, and I'd 
 stick to it if 1 was going to die the nesxt 
 minute." 
 
 " My dear boy," exclaimed Mr. Dryas- 
 dust, patting his head kindly, " you are 
 young and somewhat hasty. Take my 
 advice and never bring random accusa- 
 tions against anybody. I excuse you on 
 account of your friendship for Dashley. 
 
 By the way, did he tell you where he 
 was going?" 
 
 Artfully as the tutor led up to this 
 question, and abruptly as he put it, 
 Owen was not thrown off his guard. 
 
 " What, sir ?" he asked, in some con- 
 fusion. 
 
 " Did Dashley tell you where he in- 
 tended to hide ? " 
 
 Owen made no answer, but held down 
 his head. 
 
 " Come," continued Mr. Dryasdust, 
 " you wUl do Dashley no good by being 
 reticent, because his running away will 
 ruin his scholastic career. If boys leave 
 our school they are never liked at 
 another, and in after life it will be cast 
 at him." 
 
 " I know that. I wish he had not 
 gone." 
 
 " But where is he ?" 
 
 " He did not go home, sir," said Owen. 
 
 " I am not asking you where he did 
 not go, but where he is at the present 
 moment?" exclaimed Mr. Dryasdust 
 petulantly, 
 
 " I cannot tell you," answered Owen 
 resolutely. 
 
 He made up his mind in an instant 
 that he would rather suffer anything 
 and everything than betray his friend. 
 
 "Then you know?" continued Mr. 
 Dryasdust. " Do not tell me any stories." 
 
 " Yes, I do know," Owen replied, "but 
 I must not let any one know. I promised 
 him I would not." 
 
 " Foolish boy," exclaimed his tutor ; 
 "you are only making it disagreeable 
 for yourself. If you do not tell me where 
 he is I shall send you to the head master 
 after three o'clock school, and you know 
 what the consequences will be." 
 
 " Can't help it, sir," Owen said 
 doggedly. 
 
 " You absolutely refuse to speak?" 
 
 " I do." 
 
 " Your obstinacy will do Dashley no 
 good and yourself harm. However, the 
 consequences be on your head. 
 
 With these threatening words his 
 tutor left Owen to his own reflections, 
 which were certainly not of the most 
 pleasant nature. 
 
 It really seemed very hard to Owen 
 that he should be punished because he 
 would not betray his fidend. 
 
 At first he thought he wovild run away 
 and join Jack in the forest, but a moment's 
 
THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CH0M3. 
 
 79 
 
 reflection decided him not to do that as it 
 would pain his mother, who took a great 
 interest in his scholastic career, and 
 wanted him to go with all honours from 
 Eton to a university. 
 
 WTiile he was in the dumps Bill Bragg 
 entered the room. 
 
 " Come out and have a game at fives," 
 he exclaimed. " You're always sweating 
 away at some beastly theme or sapping 
 at verses." 
 
 " I've got the blues," replied Owen. 
 
 " All the more reason why you should 
 wake up. Look at me. I was never sick 
 or sorry in my life except once." 
 
 "When was that?" 
 
 " One day I was out riding, fell, broke 
 both arms, both my legs and my collar- 
 bone." 
 
 " Indeed!" 
 
 " Fact ; but that's nothing. I'm right 
 enough, slap-bang, and all alive." 
 
 He took a handful of chesnuts from 
 his pocket, and threw some to Owen. 
 
 " Have some," he continued. " I'm 
 going to roast mine. Do you know the 
 beauty of roasted chesnuts ? " 
 
 Owen admitted that he did not. 
 
 "Warm your hands and fill your 
 stomach for a penny. I'm a first-rate 
 cook," he went on, as he put a few on 
 the bars of the grate. " Once I was 
 cooking eels; it was winter, and they 
 were frozen, so I put them in some luke- 
 warm water to thaw them out. I put 
 them afterwards in the frying-pan, and 
 presently they jimiped out and slid under 
 the bed, making a noise like the barking 
 of a dog." 
 
 This was too much for Owen's gravity, 
 and he began to laugh. 
 
 " Wh&t awfiil lies you tell," he 
 said. 
 
 " Never told a Ue in my life," replied 
 Bragg. " I'd scorn the idea. Houpla!" 
 he added as a chesnut went pop. " Slap- 
 bang, and all alive." 
 
 Owen proceeded to tell him about Mr. 
 Dryasdust, and how he had to see the 
 head master after school because he would 
 not betray his friend. 
 
 " Deuced hard Unes," said Bragg, 
 " That's what I call a beastly shame." 
 
 " So it is, but I won't split." 
 
 "Quite right too," exclaimed Bragg. 
 " I've been switched, and it doesn't hurt 
 after it is all over. You dance about like 
 a bear on hot plates for a minute, and 
 
 then you forget all about it. But where 
 is Dashley ? " 
 
 " I can't even tell you." 
 
 *' Oh, all right, I don't want to know — 
 only asked out of curiosity. I think he 
 was a fool to run away though. When 
 I was at a private school I hooked it once, 
 walked ten miles, slept under a hayrick, 
 was attacked by r.ats in the night, killed 
 two hundred of them with a stick." 
 
 " What, two hundred ! " 
 
 " Fact, I assure you." 
 
 " Weren't you hurt ? " 
 
 " Didn't get a scratch. Come out slap- 
 bang, and all alive ! " 
 
 At this moment Timor put his head 
 in at the door. 
 
 " I've seen your friend Dashley," he 
 exclaimed, "and I mean to give him 
 up." 
 
 Owen turned pale. 
 
 " Where did you see him ? " he in- 
 quired. 
 
 " With the gipsies. I got him kicked 
 out of their camp, though he is wan- 
 dering about the forest somewhere. My 
 tutor will soon find out." 
 
 There was a look of triumphant malice 
 about Tim6r's face which was peculiarly 
 irritating to Owen. 
 
 " I wouldn't be a sneak," he exclaimed. 
 "Jack has never done you any harm 
 unless you have provoked it." 
 
 " That's what you say. Wait till he's 
 brought back. Won't he look foolish," 
 returned Timor. 
 
 He disappeared as rapidly as he had 
 come in, and Owen was left with Bragg, 
 who shared Owen's disgust at Timor's 
 vindictiveness. 
 
 " I hate that fellow more than anyone 
 in the school," said Owen. 
 
 " He's an artful one," answered Bragg. 
 " I wouldn't like to offend him ; he'd get 
 square with you if he had to wait a 
 twelvemonth." 
 
 " I couldn't do that. If I have a row 
 with a chap, I've got to have it out at 
 once." 
 
 " Same here," said Bragg. "I recollect 
 throwing a fellow down a well, but as 
 soon as he disappeared I forgave him, 
 and began to wind up the bucket and 
 pull him out again." 
 
 " Wasn't he injured?" Owen inquired. 
 
 " Got a ducking, that's all ; he seemed 
 rather wild, and I noticed that he didn't 
 care much about wells after that." 
 
60 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON] 
 
 " I should think not." 
 
 " It was kind and generous of me 
 though to let hira come out. Slap-bang 
 and all alive though, but I'm a good- 
 hearted chap. I've got it there, my 
 boy." 
 
 He laid his hand on his waistcoat in 
 the region which is popularly supposed 
 to contain the heart. 
 
 " You make me laugh," said Owen. 
 
 " Isn't it better to laugh than cry ? " 
 ansvrered Bill Bragg. "You'll cry enough 
 when you have that interview with the 
 head master. He does lay it on. I was 
 * up ' once, the same time as the Duke of 
 St. Ambrose was. St. Ambrose had shied 
 a Bible at another fellow one Sunday 
 evening, and got bowled out because 
 the good book hit his tutor in the eye 
 as he was coming along the passage. 
 The duke had six cuts, and then he 
 turned to the doctor and said — 'You 
 brute, I'd like to punch your head.' He 
 got it hot for that." 
 
 " I should like Eton very much if it 
 wasn't for the flogging," remarked 
 Owen. 
 
 " That's just what the young man said 
 of the army after he'd been fool enough 
 to enlist in a marching regiment ; but I 
 say " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " Timor is going to tell where Dashley 
 is. Why don't you go down to my tutor 
 and get ahead of him ? " 
 
 *' It isn't a bad idea," replied Owen. 
 
 " Do it, my boy ; be quick about it. 
 Imitate my way of doing things. Slap- 
 bang and all alive." 
 
 Owen thought that he could not do 
 his friend any harm now and might save 
 himself from a punishment which he 
 looked upon as degrading. 
 
 He left Bragg eating the chesuuts 
 and ran down to the pupil-room, where 
 he knew Mr. Dryasdust was engaged in 
 looking over some exercises before 
 dinner. 
 
 At the entrance to the room he met 
 Timor coming out. 
 
 The Eussian stuck his tongue in his 
 cheek and put his finger derisively to 
 his nose, while he took advantage of the 
 opportunity to give Owen a kick on the 
 shin. 
 
 " You spiteful beast," said Owen. 
 
 " Call me a beast and I'll lick yen," 
 answered Timor. 
 
 " So you are. What did you cool-shin 
 me for?" 
 
 " Because I choose to. Don't you Uke 
 it?" 
 
 " No, I don't. 
 
 " No, I don't," repeated Timor mock- 
 ingly as he imitated his voice and 
 manner. " Then you can do the other 
 thing. Ba-a-a, you Welsh goat, go 
 along." 
 
 Owen was burning with rage and re- 
 sentment, but he could not fight Timor^ 
 and did not like to say anything. 
 
 " Oh, if I was only big enough I'd give 
 you something." 
 
 Timor passed on, and stifling his anger 
 Owen went into the pupil-room. 
 
 "Can I speak to you, sir?" he ex- 
 claimed to his tutor. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust looked up. 
 "Oh, it's you Tudor; what do you 
 want ? " he asked. 
 
 " If you wish to know about Dashley 
 I can tell you where he is." 
 
 " Too late. Timor has been here, and 
 I am thankful to say has given me 
 the information that I required. Fine 
 fellow, Timor. Frank, open-hearted, 
 generous. He is an honour to the school, 
 for he has the welfare of the school at 
 heart." 
 
 " If you know where Dashley is," said 
 Owen, " of course you will not have me 
 punished." 
 
 " I certainly shall." 
 
 "Please, sir " 
 
 "Don't talk to me," interrupted Mr. 
 Dryasdust. " You will suffer first and 
 Dashley will receive his deserts when he 
 is brought back. Emissaries have 
 already gone after him and we expect 
 to have him in our power shortU'." 
 
 Feeling sick at heart and miserable, 
 Owen slowly quitted the pupil-room, 
 wishing now that he had not lowered 
 himself by offering to tell. 
 
 When he returned to his room he told 
 Bragg of his ill-success. 
 
 " Never mind, old boy, cheer up ; have 
 a chesnut." 
 
 " h, hang the ciesnuts." 
 " By all means if it will do you any 
 good. Care lulled the cat. Be like me. 
 Slap-bang and all alive," replied Bragg, 
 who began to whistle " The Wearing of 
 the Green." 
 
 " I've a jolly good mind to bolt and 
 join Jack," remarked Owen. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ET0>7. 
 
 K^o. 6. 
 
Olt, TUK ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEOE CUUMS. 
 
 "Don't you do it, ray boy. Take my 
 tip— there are worse places than Eton, 
 that's a moral." 
 
 The bell rang for dinner, and Owen 
 went down with the rest, though he had 
 little appetite and made a poor meal. 
 
 At three o'clock he took his books to 
 the schoolyard and v -^d until the long 
 gowns of the masters were seen as they 
 went to the different schoolrooms. 
 
 "All up! all up!" cried the boys, 
 which is the usual exclamation when it 
 is time to go into school. 
 
 Owen followed the rest of his division 
 into the upper school, and the usual 
 routine proceeded. 
 
 It was Roman history ; he had not 
 looked at the lesson. 
 
 As is the usual luck in such a case, he 
 was called up. 
 
 " Tudor," said the master. 
 
 And he started to his feet. 
 
 " Who was Regulus ? " asked the 
 master. 
 
 "A distinguished Roman. sir,"rephed 
 Owen. 
 
 " What was the act that brought him 
 into celebrity ? " 
 
 Owen looked at the ceiling, then at 
 the ground, and at last was obliged x* 
 say he did not know. 
 
 " You wiU write out the whole chapter 
 and bring it to me to-monow morning," 
 said the master, adding " Damon." 
 
 Another boy got up. He was a smart, 
 sprightly boy who worked hard, and as a 
 rule knew everything. 
 
 " Regulus, sir," he exclaimed glibly, 
 "went as a hostage to Carthage, and 
 had his eyelids cut off by the Cartha- 
 ginians." 
 
 So the lesson went on, Owen feeling 
 more miserable every moment, and look- 
 ing anxiously towards the door. 
 
 Presently a tall boy, who was the sixth 
 form prjepostor or " marker-in," entered 
 the upper school. 
 
 " Is Tudor in this division ?" he asked, 
 looking at a shp of paper he held in his 
 hand. 
 
 " Yes," replied Owen. 
 
 "Come to the head master after 
 school." 
 
 This was the knell of doom, for it 
 meant punishment, and all the boys 
 looked at him and grinned. 
 
 After school he proceeded to the head 
 master's room and entered. 
 
 Two collegers with gowiis on stood by 
 the block on which he had to kneel, the 
 pr.-epostor was arranging Home birches on 
 the table, and the doctor looked sternly 
 at Owen. 
 
 " You are 'in the bill,'" said the doctor, 
 " for disobedience." 
 
 '■ Yes, sir," replied Owen, shiverinfj .1 
 little. ' ' ^ ^ 
 
 " Why did you not give your tutor th > 
 desired information ? " 
 
 "Because I did not think it right to 
 betray my friend, sir." 
 
 " But you could not think it right of 
 your friend to defy the discipline of the 
 school and run away. What have you to 
 say to that ? " 
 
 " Dashley, sir, ie different from me. I 
 conform to discipline, or I should not 
 have been here now. I too could hav.i 
 run away. He thought JNIr. Dryasdust 
 had a spite against him. If I am to 
 suffer for not giving him up I can't help 
 it, though I think it is rather unfau'." 
 
 "So you acted from a sentiment of 
 honour ? " 
 
 " Exactly, sir," 
 
 The head master had taken up a birch, 
 but he put it down again as if he had 
 altered his mind. 
 
 "Well," he said, " j-ou can go. I shall 
 not flog you this time though I must 
 impress upon your mind that you have 
 acted from a mistaken sentiment of 
 honour, and when you come to reflect 
 upon it I think j'ou will agree with me. 
 Go, Tudor, and in future do not regard 
 your masters as tyrants ; we are put in 
 authority over you and act only for your 
 good." 
 
 Owen could scarcely believe his good 
 luck. 
 
 " Can I really go, sir ?" he asked. 
 
 "Certainly, run along," replied the 
 doctor kindly. 
 
 Away he went, only too glad to get 
 away from the dismal-looking torture- 
 chamber which had echoed the groans 
 of many generations of boys. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " he cried, throwing his hat 
 in the air. 
 
 At the bottom of the stairs was Bill 
 Bragg, who was waiting to greet him 
 when all was over. 
 
 " I say, cheese it," he exclaimed ; "that 
 hat hit me in the eye." 
 
 " Did it ? I'm awfully sorry." 
 "How did you gtt along !" coTi»i-iiied 
 
64 
 
 TUE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 ,13ragg, picking up the ofifending hat and 
 giving it him. " Did it sting ? " 
 
 " The doctor let me ofif. He's a brick. 
 Come up tomi. I'll stand you all the 
 cakes, tarts, and buns you can eat," 
 replied Owen. 
 
 *' Let oft', eh !" cried Bragg, with wide 
 open eyes. 
 
 « Yes." 
 
 " Well I'm blowed ! " said Bragg, who 
 spemed rather disappointed than other- 
 wise at this unexpected clemency on the 
 pait of the doctor. 
 
 Owen put his arm in his, saying — 
 
 " Buckle to." 
 
 And they went up town together. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 CONDE^rNED. 
 
 When Jack Dashley recovered his senses 
 he found himself lying on his back with 
 something heavy fastened round his right 
 leg. 
 
 Stretching out his hand, he discovered 
 that this ponderous substance was a 
 thick chain composed of heavy iron 
 links. 
 
 Sitting up he looked around him. 
 
 An oil-lamp hung from the ceiling or 
 roof, showing that he was in a sandstone 
 cave of large dimensions and ii-regular 
 formation, the sides being rugged and 
 jagged. _ 
 
 Eeposing on two chairs m front of a 
 common deal table, on which stood a 
 bottle and some glasses, were a couple 
 of men. 
 
 One he had no difficulty in recognising 
 as the Eussian, Ivanowitch, chief of the 
 gipsies, but the other was unknown to 
 him. 
 
 He was a tall, stout, thickly-built 
 personage, hairy and savage in his ap- 
 pearance, and gifted with a fierce scowl, 
 and his general hang-dog looks were 
 aggravated by his thick beetling eye- 
 brows. 
 
 On the floor were a variety of articles, 
 among which a cursory glance enabled 
 him to see a stag's horns resembling 
 those which the person supposed to be 
 Heme the Hunter wore on his head, 
 and piled in aheap were the pieces of 
 plate stolen from ]Mr. Dryasdust's, and a 
 ^■ariety of things, evidently the plunder 
 of many houses in the vicinity of Windsor 
 and Eton. 
 
 The sandstone cave clearly was con- 
 nected with Heme's oak, a shaft com- 
 ):aunicating with the hollow trunk of the 
 tree, and giving access to the vaulted 
 cliamber below. 
 
 That it was a den of robbers he did 
 not doubt. 
 
 He conjectured that the companion 
 of Ivan was the well-known thief of 
 whom Grunstock had spoken, named Bill 
 Silver. 
 
 What he subsequently learned justified 
 this assumption. 
 
 Bill iSilver was a confederate of Ivan. 
 
 They committed robberies together, 
 conveying their plunder to the aive. 
 
 At times Bill would put on the horns, 
 dress himself in black, and appearing on 
 tlie branches of the oak or in the forest, 
 terrify people as the apparition of Heme 
 the Hunter. 
 
 The mystery of the cave, which had 
 for so long perplexed him, was now 
 explained. 
 
 Jack found that the other end of the 
 chain was fastened to a staple firmly 
 imbedded in the sandstone. 
 
 He was then a prisoner, but what his 
 ultimate fate was to be he could not 
 imagine. 
 
 While noticing all these things, he 
 heard a voice which seemed to come 
 from the roof. 
 
 " Father ! " cried the voice, which was 
 shrill and elfish, " he's woke up." 
 
 Casting his eyes in the direction from 
 whence the sound came, he saw a boj', 
 whose age might have been thirteen, 
 perched upon a projecting ledge of rock 
 near the roof. 
 
 He was very thin, and had unusually 
 long legs and arms. 
 
 His head was old-fashioned in appear- 
 ance, like that of an old man of fifty, 
 and his bony fingers were skeletonic 
 and double-jointed. 
 
 His hair hung in elfish locks over his 
 forehead. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 85 
 
 There was a certain resemblance about 
 him to a sprite in a pantomime. 
 
 The ledge he was sitting on was very 
 narrow, and it was a wonder how he 
 managed to keep his balance. 
 
 This was the son of Bill Silver, who 
 from the rapidity of his movements, and 
 his love of climbing had acquired the 
 nickname of Quicksilver. 
 
 The boy could climb Uke a squirrel or 
 a monkey, and was never happy when 
 sitting on a chair Hke a reasonable 
 being. 
 
 When Quicksilver called his father's 
 attention to Jack, the two men turned 
 their faces towards the prisoner. 
 
 " Oh, youv'e come to, have you ?" said 
 Bill. 
 
 "Yes," replied Jack boldly; "and I 
 demand to know by what right I am 
 dragged here and chained up like a dog." 
 
 " You have oflfended Timor," replied 
 Bill. 
 
 " Who are yon ? " 
 
 " Bill Silver, a pal of Ivan's, and as 
 good a cracksman as there is in the 
 country. I'm Heme the Hunter some- 
 times," he added, with a laugh. 
 
 " Then it was you who caught hold of 
 me in the tree and nearly choked the 
 life out of me," Jack continued. 
 
 " That's me, and that youth up there 
 is my lad, Quicksilver." 
 
 "Where am I ?" 
 
 " In the sandstone cave in the forest." 
 
 "What are you going to do with 
 me?" 
 
 "That depends. Wait till Timor 
 comes, and you'll know soon enough. 
 I expect him here after four. He knows 
 the way into the cave. Lor', wasn't he 
 scared though the first time I collared 
 him for a lark, and brought him down 
 the trunk." 
 
 " Enough to make him," said Ivan. 
 
 Jack leant against the wall and gave 
 himself up to meditation. 
 
 So his fate depended upon Timor. 
 
 Perhaps they would starve him or put 
 him to death in some cruel manner. 
 
 No one would ever discover him in 
 such a place. 
 
 " It's a queer crib," remarked BiU 
 Silver. 
 
 "How did you discover it?" asked 
 Ivan. 
 
 " It wasn't me, at all. It was all along 
 of Quicksilver. He's an imp of darkness, 
 
 he is, if ever there was one. He was 
 chasing a squirrel one day, and it ran 
 down the hollow of Heme's oak. (Juick- 
 silver was after it like a shot and down 
 the hole he went, and of course found 
 out the cave." 
 
 " Strange," said Ivan. 
 
 " He came and told me and I examined 
 it. There were steps cut in the rock to 
 enable you to go down the shaft, show- 
 ing that it had been used by some ouo 
 in former days." 
 
 " By Heme himself perhaps?" 
 " Possibly. All I know is it suited me 
 as the police were hot on my track, and 
 I and Quicksilver have lived here for 
 nigh a year. No one knows of its ex- 
 istence but you and your nephew Timor, 
 though I have had to dodge Gunstock 
 narrowly more than once." 
 
 " It is very useful," replied Ivan, 
 " and we have found it so since you and 
 I have been doing business together. I 
 don't know where we should have put 
 our plunder if we had not had this 
 cave." 
 
 "That's tme; but we ought to be 
 getting the stuff up to the Jew iu 
 Houndsditch." 
 
 " Wait tiU we have robbed the castle," 
 replied Ivan. 
 
 " Yes. If we can get the IMaharajah's 
 jewels we can retire from business." 
 
 " Precisely. I want money to get back 
 to Kussia," said Ivan. " Let me see. 
 The rajah is coming on a visit to the 
 Queen to-moiTow and will stay a week. 
 His jewels are valued at a million." 
 
 "\Miew!" whistled Bill. 
 
 " We shall have a nice little sum to 
 divide when the Jew pays us. Come to 
 Russia with me, and I will introduce you 
 as an English lord." 
 
 " I'll do it." 
 
 Quicksilver had listened to these 
 remarks attentively. 
 
 Quitting his lofty perch he slid down 
 the side of the cave with incredible 
 rapidity. 
 
 " What'U you do with me ? " he asked. 
 
 •' Put you aboard the training ship," 
 said his father. 
 
 " Not for Joe." 
 
 " What do you mean ?" 
 
 " Oh dear no, it isn't good enough, I 
 want to be a young lord, I do, and dress 
 well and have nice things to eat and 
 drink, and cut about in carriages." 
 
TOE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON | 
 
 "You'll have a dose of the stick 
 directly, you young limb." 
 
 Bill Silver stooped down and picked 
 up an ash plant, the sight of which 
 caused Quicksilver to vanish. 
 
 He was up the side of the cave in an 
 instant. 
 
 "Ha, ha!" he cried. "You can't 
 catch me dad." 
 
 " I don't believe old Nick himself 
 could," replied Bill, laughing at the 
 dispL-iy oi the boy's agility. 
 
 " You won't send me to sea, dad, will 
 you ? " ooutinued Quicksilver. 
 
 " I'll make an acrobat of you," was the 
 answer. 
 
 " But if you are going to be a swell, 
 why can't I ? " 
 
 " Well, I'll see about it. Wait till the 
 job comes off and we've got the sugar. 
 It will be time enough to talk about it 
 then." 
 
 W^ilh this rather vague rejoinder 
 Quicksilver was forced to be content. 
 
 Jack wished heartily that he had his 
 fi-eedom, for he saw that he was in the 
 power of desperate and daring thieves. 
 
 Now he could understand how Mr. 
 Dryasdust had been robbed. 
 
 Timor had let the thieves in at his 
 window, and the twu men Jack had seen 
 in the moosiight were no other than 
 Ivan and Bill Silver. 
 
 They had formed a plan to enter the 
 casjtle and rob the rich Indian prince of 
 wnoijj he had heard, the Maharajah of 
 Sural., whose jewels were worth a million 
 of pounds sterhng. 
 
 It was an audacious enterprise. 
 
 After some fuither conversation the 
 two men quitted the cave together, 
 leaving Jack in charge of Quicksilver, 
 though secured as he was there was no 
 chance of his escaping. 
 
 " I like you," said Quicksilver. 
 
 " Do yo:] ; why ? " asked Jack, feeling 
 glad somenow that the boy had said so. 
 
 " I saw you fight on election day. 
 Wiat's your name ?" 
 
 "Jack Dashley." 
 
 " Ah ! i heard some of the boys in the 
 ijOWD. talk about Jack of Eton. You're a 
 hard slogger. I got a oner on the nose 
 from you." 
 
 Jack laughed. 
 
 " I couldn't help that, you know, in 
 the scrimmage," he exclaimed. " It was 
 one down and the other come on." 
 
 " Of course it was, and though you 
 hit me I landed you one." 
 " Quite right to 
 
 " I hate, Timor," continued Quick- 
 silver. " He's a beast." 
 " So I think." 
 
 " Once he beat me, and I have nevei 
 forgiven him for it. Oh, he's a member, 
 and a hot 'un too. I'm sorry they've got 
 you here." 
 
 " You can't be more sorry than I am," 
 answered Jack. " I wish I had taken 
 little EfBe's advice and kept out of the 
 forest. But," he added, with a sigh, "it 
 all came of running away. Always be a 
 good boy. Quicksilver." 
 
 " I can't," replied Quicksilver, frankly. 
 " It isn't in me. Dad says I'm a limb, 
 and I believe I am. But I say, do you 
 know Effie ? " 
 "Don't I?" 
 
 " Ain't she nice ? Oh, crumbs ! I'd 
 like to have her for my gal." 
 
 " She don't look a bit like a gipsy," 
 remarked Jack. " It's funny how she 
 got among such people." 
 
 " No more she is a gipsy," said Quick- 
 silver. 
 
 " How do you know ? " 
 "I have heard them talking about 
 her. You see the gipsies came over here 
 about twelve or thirteen years ago, and 
 camped in the same spot where they are 
 now." 
 
 " Indeed ! " 
 
 "Yes, and when they went back to 
 Russia they stole a kid and took her with 
 them. That kid was Effie." 
 
 " Really," said Jack, much interested. 
 " You didn't happen to hear whose child 
 she is ? " 
 
 " No," replied Quicksilver. " The gips 
 are too artful to let on about that. They 
 had an idea of giving her up for a large 
 sum of money, but they're all so fond of 
 her that they can't part with her, so I 
 s'pose she'll Uve and die a gipsy." 
 " Not if I can help it," cried Jack. 
 "You won't have much say in it," 
 answered Quicksilver. " It's my opinion 
 that dad will knock you on the head." 
 " Do what ? " 
 
 " Put you out of the way — make cold 
 meat of you. Timor has often said he 
 wished you were dead." 
 
 A thrill of horror crept over Jack at 
 this speech. 
 
 He was going to die, and the world 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 87 
 
 was opening so fresh and bright for 
 him. 
 
 Then he thought of his happy London 
 home, his affectionate father, and his 
 loving mother, who, he being her only 
 son, thought the world of him. 
 
 " (Jiiicksilver," he said eagerly, " you 
 say you like me ? " 
 
 « So I do." 
 
 " Be my friend." 
 
 " I will, as far as I dare." 
 
 " Look here," continued Jack, " I am 
 in danger. I know it, I feel it, and what 
 you have just said confirms my worst 
 fears. You can undo this chain and let 
 me go. I will promise not to say a word 
 to any one about the cave. Its very 
 existence shall be forgotten by me, so 
 that no harm can come to yom* father or 
 yourself." 
 
 Quicksilver shook his head. 
 
 " I can't do it," he exclaimed. "You 
 see that the chain is secured to your leg 
 by a padlock." 
 
 " Well, suppose it is, what of that ?" 
 
 " Dad's got the key in his waistcoat- 
 pocket." 
 
 At this announcement Jack's heart 
 sank in his breast, for however anxious 
 Quicksilver might be to help him he was 
 absolutely powerless. 
 
 " Couldn't you get the key?" he asked. 
 
 " I might when dad's asleep, but it's 
 a risky game, and the welting I should 
 get would be a caution. Dad's a demon 
 when his temper's up, and that ash plant 
 of his cuts you like a knife." 
 
 "If you could help me," continued 
 Jack, " I should never forget your kind- 
 ness. Your father is going away with 
 Ivan, and he talks of sending you to 
 sea." 
 
 " I ain't going ; not I, oh, dear, no." 
 
 "Then he may leave you to shift for 
 yourself. I don't think he cares much 
 for you." 
 
 " Only to beat and kick me again and 
 make me work and steal," rephed the 
 boy sadly. " I've never had a kind word 
 from him since mother died." 
 
 " You remember your mother ? " 
 
 " That I do. She was good to me if 
 you like," said Quicksilver, the tears 
 coming into his eyes at the recollection. 
 
 " Now look here," Jack went on, seeing 
 that he had made some impression on 
 Quicksilver, " my father is well off, and 
 I can always get what money I want 
 
 from him for a good purpose. If you 
 help me to get away I'll take you with 
 me, and you shall be my friend and I 
 will pay for your board somewhere near 
 Eton." 
 
 " You are going back then ? " 
 
 " Yes ; I find that I acted hastily and 
 foolishly. I did a very foolish thing." 
 
 " What was that ? " 
 
 " I let my temper get the best of me, 
 and I shall give myself uj) to the head 
 master, take my whipping quietly, and 
 think uo more about it." 
 
 " I shouldn't like to be whipped," said 
 Quicksilver. 
 
 " No one does, but I believe I deserved 
 it, and running away has taught me a 
 lesson," answered Jack. 
 
 He was really beginning to see the 
 error of his ways, and was ashamed of 
 himself. 
 
 Where there is shame there may be 
 reformation. 
 
 This was the case with Jack, who felt 
 if he could only get out of the scrape 
 in which he was placed and go back t(f 
 Eton, he would submit to any discipline 
 the head master chose to inflict upon 
 him. 
 
 And no wonder. 
 
 He was actually in a most dangerous 
 position, and there was no telling what 
 might happen to him, if Timor chose to 
 exercise his spite. 
 
 Ivan had no idea of mercy, and Bill 
 Silver was not troubled with any com- 
 punctions of conscience. 
 
 " Will you help me ? " urged Jack. 
 
 Quicksilver jumped nimbly down from 
 his elevated position, and after throwing 
 half-a-dozen catherine-wheels on the 
 floor, standing on his head, and trying to 
 dislocate his backbone generally, stood 
 in front of Jack. 
 
 " I will," he repUed. " Blest if I 
 don't." 
 
 "Give me your fist on that. I feel 
 that you can do much, if you will only 
 try." 
 
 " 1 ou'U take me with you, and see 
 after me ? " 
 
 " Yes, do not doubt it." 
 
 They shook hands cordially, and the 
 compact was made. 
 
 " I shouldn't like you to turn me 
 adrift," said Quicksilver. " It's awful 
 hard for a boy to get a living in these 
 days, and a chap doesn't like being sent 
 
68 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 to the training-ship. I don't want to be 
 a bad 'un, like dad." 
 
 " 1 should think not." 
 
 " You see, I ain't really bad," con- 
 tinued the boy; "although I have had 
 the steel." 
 
 " What's that ? " 
 
 " Had a key turned on rue. Been 
 locked up, you know." 
 
 " I am sorry for you, Quick," exclaimed 
 Jack ; " and I promise I will always be a 
 friend to you." 
 
 '" Will you really, though ? " 
 
 " I mean it," answered Jack. " If I 
 get out of this, you shall always be with 
 me." 
 
 " All right, I believe you," said Quick- 
 silver ; " you're not a bad sort. You've 
 got a good mug on you." 
 
 "I don't quite understand you." 
 
 " What I nioan is, I like your f.ice, 
 and I know that when we are together I 
 shall get fond of you. I'm sure 1 should 
 love any one who was kind to me, 
 especially you, but if you were to dis- 
 tharge me, I'd break my heart." 
 
 " Discharge you ? " 
 
 "Yes, that's the word. V^e may be 
 friends, but I shall be j'our servant m.ore 
 than anything else. You're a young 
 gentleman, and an Eton boy. I'm only 
 — well you know what I am." 
 
 " You're not a fool, anyhow." 
 
 " Not exactly," said (Quicksilver, who 
 cut a caper and stood on his head, lialf 
 way up the wall, having landed oa a 
 ledge. " I reckon there ain't much of 
 the fool about me, and I'm buuud to let 
 them all know it too." 
 
 Whenever Quicksilver was excited or 
 deeply agitated, he seemed to derive a 
 peculiar satisfaction from standing on his 
 head, with his feet in the air. 
 
 Perhaps he was better able to think in 
 that somewhat abnormal position ior a 
 biped of the human sjiecies. 
 
 Presently he came down to earth 
 again. 
 
 "^^^lat do you stand on your head 
 for ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "It's a way I've got," replied Quick-- 
 silver. 
 
 " Does it do you good ? " 
 
 " Heaps. I never could sit about as 
 other boys do. If I'm out in the forest 
 you'll always find me cutting up trees. 
 I'm like the thimble-rigger's pea, now 
 you see me and now you don't." 
 
 "What a sijlendid sprite or gnome 
 you'd make." 
 
 " Yes. That's what I'm cut out for. 
 
 I once see a pantomime in Windsor, and 
 
 I thought I should succeed in that line 
 
 I of business or else join a circus." 
 
 I Jack assured him that there was some- 
 
 I thing better in store for him, and they 
 
 j went on talking about the projected 
 
 escape. 
 
 Quicksilver assured Jack that he would 
 do all he possibly could to help him ; the 
 one great ieat to be achieved was to get 
 the key out of his father's possession. 
 
 That once done the rest would be com- 
 paratively easy. 
 
 •' We could get out through the tree," 
 said the boy. " But I think I know a 
 better dodge than that." 
 
 " How ? " 
 
 "There is a subterranean passage," 
 replied Quicksilver, " which runs all the 
 way under the park right up to the 
 castle." 
 
 " Does your father know that ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes; that is the way they meant 
 to enter the castle in search of the rajah's 
 jewels." 
 
 " I see,"' said Jack. 
 
 " But," added Quicksilver, " at the end 
 of the passage is a big door. Dad took 
 an impression of the key in was, and is 
 having one made for it; he's gone to get 
 the key now." 
 
 " Then you'll have to obtain possession 
 of both kevs." 
 
 " That's"'it." 
 
 Jack was satisfied that once in the 
 castle they would be safe, for no one 
 would dare to follow them. 
 
 Keckless as Bill Silver was, he would 
 hardly have the folly to run his head 
 into a noose. 
 
 "There is one thing we have not 
 settled, exclaimed Quicksilver. 
 
 " What's that ? " 
 
 " You mustn't let on about dad. I 
 wouldn't get him into any trouble. If 
 we are asked any questions, we must cook 
 up some story. Say we were after rabbits 
 and fell into a cave which led to this 
 passage." 
 
 " But the key of the door ? " said Jack. 
 
 " Oh, we can throw that away, and 
 tell them that when we pushed the door 
 it opened." 
 
 " All right ; whatever you say I'D 
 stick to, for your father's sake." 
 
OR, TBE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CUUMS. 
 
 Quicksilver was about to make some 
 reply when a peculiar souncl. ^p-as heard 
 in the vicinity of the shaft. 
 
 " They're coming back. Be careful ; 
 not a word ! " 
 
 " Trust me," said Jack. 
 
 The next minute he had climbed up 
 the wall in his monkey-like way, and 
 with one spring reached a large ham 
 which was hanging by a cord fiom the 
 roof. 
 
 He sat astride this as comfortably and 
 unconcernedly as a midshipman on the 
 cross-trees when he has been mastheaded 
 by his commanding officer for dis- 
 obedience to orders. 
 
 In a little while Bill Silver, Ivan, and 
 Timor entered the cave. 
 
 " Ha ! " exclaimed Timor, directly his 
 eyes fell upon Jack; " here is the caged 
 bird." 
 
 " Yes," replied Jack. " But if I am 
 caught in a trap by your rascally associate, 
 I am not afraid of you, cur that you 
 are." 
 
 " I'U see about that presently." 
 
 " Wait till I get back to Eton," con- 
 tinued Jack, who lost his temper com- 
 pletely at the sight of his enemy. "I'll 
 expose you, my boy, and it won't be my 
 fault if you are not expelled." 
 
 Timor regarded him with a look of 
 concentrated hatred. 
 
 " You wiU never see Eton again," he 
 rejoined. 
 
 >' Why shall I not ? " 
 
 " Because you will not leave this cave 
 alive. Your bones will bleach in one of 
 the passages which lead from it, and your 
 friends will see you no more." 
 
 Jack was standing up, and he made a 
 rush at Timor, but the chain stopped 
 him. 
 
 " If I could only get at you," he cried, 
 " I'd smash you." 
 
 The men sat down at the table, and 
 drank some brandy. 
 
 "Don't waste your breath on him, 
 nephew," said Ivan. "We have more 
 important things to attend to." 
 
 " Granted ; but he may as well know 
 his fate, uncle," replied Timor. "I want 
 to make him writhe." 
 
 " As you wish ; tell him." 
 
 Timor extended his hand towards Jack 
 threateningly. 
 
 " Dashley," he exclaimed, " you and I 
 have been enemies for a long time. You 
 
 could not keep your tongue still, and 
 told all the fellows that I was related to 
 a gipsy." 
 
 " I did," replied Jack. 
 
 " Very well. I hate you for it. My 
 u.icle is a gentleman, and well known in 
 Russia. He incurred the emperor's dis- 
 pleasure, and his estates were taken away 
 from him. He is here with the gipsies 
 because it suits him. A pardon is to be 
 granted him, and so on ; he will go back 
 to his own country, taking his place 
 among the nobles." 
 
 " Sorry for the nobles," Jack said sar- 
 castically. 
 
 " Never mind. You have done me an 
 injury. ^My friends in the sixth form 
 believe the gipsy story, and they have 
 cut me dead." 
 
 "Serve you right too," said Jack. 
 "No decent man ought to be seen 
 with such a contemptible sneak and 
 coward." 
 
 " That is your opinion. Let me ask 
 you one question." 
 
 " Go ahead and ask fifty for all I 
 care." 
 
 " Do you know what the penalty of 
 insulting an Ivanowitch is in Kussia ? " 
 
 " No, and I don't care." 
 
 " Yes, you will. If any one insults a 
 member of our house, we do not have 
 him sent to the mines, nor do we knout 
 him. The penalty is death, and it is the 
 same here in England ; you have insulted 
 me, and you must die." 
 
 " Die !" repeated Jack. "How?" 
 
 " Oh, Bill Silver will an-ange that 
 matter for you. I have pronounced 
 sentence, and the executioners can do 
 the rest." 
 
 " How long have I to live ? " 
 
 " I leave that to Silver. It is enough 
 for you to know that you are sentenced 
 to death." 
 
 Jack folded his arms and leant against 
 the wall proudly. 
 
 No further attention was paid to him, 
 and the three conspirators talked to one 
 another in a low voice. 
 
 Jack felt very much discouraged. 
 
 All at once he saw Quicksilver slip off 
 the perch on which he had placed 
 himself and turn half-a-dozen somer- 
 saults. 
 
 As he passed him he whispered — 
 "cheer up," — and dived away into the 
 hidden recesses of the cave. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON j 
 
 CHAPTER XX- 
 
 THE SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGE. 
 
 Timor did not stay long in the cave. 
 
 He heard what his uncle had to say 
 about the intended robbery of the Indian 
 rajah, and his subsequent contemplated 
 dejmrture for Russia with the plunder. 
 
 Then he went back to college without 
 bestowing so much as a word upon Jack. 
 
 Ivan remained until dark with Bill 
 Silver, when he departed for his hut. 
 
 The bottle on the table contained 
 brandy, and Silver devoted himself to 
 the apparently congenial task of empty- 
 ing it. 
 
 Smoking a short pipe and drinking 
 brandy made him feel sleepy ; his head 
 nodded, his eyes closed, and the pipe 
 fell from his hands. 
 
 Suddenly his head fell forward on the 
 edge of the table, and he woke up with 
 a loud exclamation. 
 
 " Quicksy ! Where's Quicksy ? " he 
 cried. 
 
 " Here, dad," replied the boy, who had 
 been entertaining himself by walking 
 about on all fours face uppermost. 
 
 " What have you been doing ? " 
 
 "Doing the crab, dad." 
 
 " Get my bed ready," said his father. 
 
 Quicksilver rolled a mattress from the 
 corner on to the floor, spreading it out 
 and throwing a couple of blankets on 
 it. 
 
 " I believe I'm half tight — got three 
 sheets in the wind as the sailors say," 
 continued Silver. "I'll take a nap. But 
 hold on, haven't I got something to do 
 first ? " 
 
 He scratched his head in perplexity, 
 as if he could not exactly remember what 
 was expected of him. 
 
 All at once he brought his fist down 
 on the table with a bang that made the 
 glasses rattle. 
 
 " I know," he cried. " I've got to kill 
 a boy. Where is he ? " 
 
 He looked round with his bleared eyes 
 and saw Jack. 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " he continued. " It's nice 
 game to shoot at." 
 
 Drawing a revolver from his pocket he 
 deliberately cocked and aimed it at Jack, 
 who gave himself up for lost. 
 
 " I'll lay a shilling I hit him the first 
 shot," he said, with a drunken chuckle. 
 
 The trigger was pulled. 
 
 Bang! 
 
 The smoke cleared off, and Jack was 
 seen leaning against the wall unhurt. 
 
 Luckily the man had been drinking so 
 much that his hand was unsteady, and 
 his aim therefore uncertain. 
 
 " Didn't I hit him ? " he asked. " I 
 warn't used to miss like that. Here 
 goes for another shot. Three shies a 
 penny." 
 
 A second time he fired, but missed 
 again, though the bullet this time went 
 dangerously near Jack's forehead. 
 
 " Humph ! " he cried. " No bull's eye ? 
 Blow the luck. I'll have to wait till I 
 wake up. It's no use wasting powder 
 and shot." 
 
 The perspiration had been pouring 
 down Jack's face, for he felt sure the 
 ruffian would hit him presently, if it was 
 only by accident. 
 
 His last words were like a reprieve to 
 a condemned man. 
 
 He breathed again. 
 
 Silver left the pistol on the table, and 
 staggered towards the mattress on which 
 he fell full length. 
 
 Soon he was snoring loudly, and 
 unconscious of all around him. 
 
 Quicksilver, who had been afraid to 
 move, now crept up to Jack and squeezed 
 his hand. 
 
 *' Narrow squeak that," he remarked. 
 
 "Yes, indeed it was," replied Jack. 
 " I thought it was all U P." 
 
 " Keep quiet. I'm going to look for 
 the keys," continued Quicksilver. 
 
 He crawled on his hands and knees 
 towards his sleeping parent, and put his 
 finger deftly into his waistcoat pocket. 
 
 The rufiian moved uneasily, and began 
 to talk in his sleep. 
 
 " Don't you do it," he muttered ; " I'll 
 be the death of you if you touch me. 
 Drop it, old pard." 
 
 With two bounds Quicksilver was up 
 at the top of the cave. 
 
 Silver did not really awake, he was 
 only a little perturbed in his mind, and 
 
OK, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CUUMS. 
 
 rolling on his back he began to snore 
 louder than ever. 
 
 Down came the boy again, and a second 
 attempt was made on the pocket of the 
 slumbering man. 
 
 This time he was more successful, for 
 he contrived to extract first the key of 
 the padlock, and then the newly-made 
 key of the door at the end of the sub- 
 terranean passage. 
 
 It had been an anxious moment for 
 Jack. 
 
 On the dexterity of Quicksilver his 
 fate entirely depended. 
 
 The boy held up the keys in triumph 
 and promptly unlocked the padlock, free- 
 ing Jack from the chain. 
 
 Still Bill Silver slumbered on. 
 
 Quicksilver took up a lantern, lighted 
 it, and beckoned Jack to follow, which 
 he did noiselessly. 
 
 They did not dare to speak until they 
 got out of the cave, but before he quitted 
 it Jack snatched up the revolver, which 
 yet had three chambers loaded. 
 
 He was' determined to sell his life., 
 dearly, if it was again placed in 
 jeopardy. 
 
 Quicksilver was evidently well ac- 
 quainted with the entrance to the sub- 
 terranean passage, for he did not once 
 pause or falter. 
 
 At the extremity of the cave was a 
 hole in the wall, which led into another 
 vaulted chamber of larger dimensions. 
 
 To get into this they had to stoop and 
 crawl through the hole on their hands 
 and knees. 
 
 The second cave, like the first, was a 
 natural excavation in a deposit of red 
 sandstone. 
 
 On one side of this yawned a black 
 looking gulf, which was the entrance to 
 the passage. 
 
 It was about three feet wide and six 
 high. 
 
 The uniform size of it made it resem- 
 ble the work of men's hands, and it had 
 very probably been purposely made in 
 the old days of the castle for some pur- 
 pose which will ever remain a secret. 
 
 The distance to the castle was about 
 a mile as the bird flies, and the subter- 
 ranean way was built in a straight 
 line. 
 
 When the castle was reached, a flight 
 of steps was encountered, up which 
 Quicksilver went. 
 
 Up to this time not a word had been 
 
 spoken. 
 
 Jack was congratulating himself upon 
 his escape, when he fancied he heard 
 the sound of some one running behind 
 him. 
 
 " Hold on Quicksy ! " he exclaimed. 
 " We are pursued ! " 
 
 Quicksilver at once hid the lantern 
 under his jacket. 
 
 " It must be father," he said. " Don't 
 shoot." 
 
 " But he will overtake us, and I shall 
 have to go back," Jack replied, in per- 
 plexity. 
 
 Quicksilver did not doubt that his 
 father had awoke suddenly, and dis- 
 covering the flight of his captive, had 
 guessed the direction in which he had 
 gone. 
 
 He had to choose between his father 
 and his friend, which was an awkward 
 dilemma to be placed in. 
 
 " Is that you, father," he shouted. 
 
 Nothing could be seen in the thick 
 darkness, but the hurried breathing of a 
 man niuning was distinctly audible. 
 
 Jack grasped his pistol tightly. 
 
 " Yes, it is me," replied Bill Silver, 
 in a terrible rage. "You thought to 
 give me the sUp, did you? Come 
 back ! " 
 
 " We're only having a lark, dad." 
 
 "Lark?" Fine kind of lark when 
 you've stolen both keys. I can tumble, 
 my lad." 
 
 Jack cocked his pistol. 
 
 " Advance another step, and I wiU 
 fire ! " he cried. 
 
 There was a pause, and all was still, 
 which indicated that BUI Silver had 
 stopped in perplexity. 
 
 " What's your game ? " he asked. 
 
 " Life and liberty ! and I'll have it or 
 die," cried Jack. 
 
 " Come back. I won't hurt you." 
 
 " Will the lamb lie down with the 
 wolf ? " replied Jack scornfully. 
 
 " I'll have you, my lad, if I do get an 
 ounce of lead," exclaimed Silver. 
 
 " Show a light, Quicksy," Jack cried. 
 
 The boy flashed the lantern up the 
 passage, and revealed Jack standing on 
 the lowest step of the flight, and Bill 
 Silver about a dozen yards oflf. 
 
 It was a striking scene. 
 
 " Now then, Mr. Silver,' said Jack ; 
 " you see I am armed, and 1 shall as- 
 
92 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETOS ; 
 
 suredly shoot you if you attempt to 
 follow me. Go back to your cave, and 
 leave me to get out of this rabbit burrow 
 in my own way." 
 
 Seeing that the odds were against 
 him," he began to change his tone. 
 
 "I don't mean you any harm," he 
 began. " " 
 
 " None of your blarney," Jack inter- 
 rupted. "I know you and those with 
 whom you deal." 
 
 " It's all along of Timor," said Silver. 
 
 " Whose willing tool you are. Back 
 at once, I say, and do not dare to pursue 
 me. I have the advantage, and by 
 Heaven I'll keep it." 
 
 Smothering a curse between his lips, 
 the ruffian turned on his heel and went 
 back the way he had come. 
 
 " We're out of that," said Jack with a 
 sigh of relief, as Silver's burly form dis- 
 appeared in the darkness. 
 
 " Come on, for Heaven's sake," cried 
 Quicksilver ; " you don't know my dad. 
 He's up to every move on the board. 
 There ain't a dodge he don't practise." 
 
 Jack hastened after his companion, 
 and they mounted the steps with some 
 diflSculty, as they were cmmbling with 
 age. 
 
 Thej' had to be careful. 
 
 If they missed their footing, they 
 would roll down to the bottom and 
 seriously injure themselves. 
 
 At length they came to an iron-bound 
 door, and could proceed no farther. 
 
 What was beyond they could only 
 guess. 
 
 Quicksilver at once inserted the key, 
 which he turned with some trouble, and 
 the door revolved on its rusty hinges, 
 pushing back some heavy arras or 
 tapestry with which the door was 
 adorned. 
 
 The boys quickly entered. 
 
 A voice exclaimed — 
 
 " Great powers ! what's this ?" 
 
 Quicksilver closed the door again, 
 and the boys stepped from behind the 
 arras. 
 
 They found themselves in a large 
 room, in which a fire was burning 
 brightly. 
 
 It was richly furnished in an antique 
 style. 
 
 Standing before the fire was an elderly 
 gentleman, whose face expressed the 
 astonishment that he fUt. 
 
 "Don't be alarmed, sir," cried Jack. 
 " I beg to apoligize for this intrusion, 
 which was involuntary on our part." 
 
 The gentleman examined them by 
 the light of the lamp which stood on 
 the table. 
 
 " Where did you come from ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 "We were playing in the park, sir, 
 and fell through a hole into a subterra- 
 nean passage, which brought us to a 
 door. Pushing that, it opened, and we 
 are here." 
 
 " A most extraordinary tale." 
 
 " True, in every respect, sir," replied 
 Jack with unblushing effrontery. 
 
 " I'^rom your appearance I should say 
 you were an Eton boy," said the gentle- 
 man. 
 
 "Precisely. My name is Dash ley. I 
 board at Mr. Dryasdust's, and this young 
 man is a friend of mine; and now, sir, 
 whom have we the pleasure of ad- 
 dressing ? " 
 
 " I am Mr. Vavasour," answered the 
 gentleman. " I am one of the Knights 
 of Windsor. These are my apartments 
 in the castle." 
 
 Jack bowed politely. 
 
 " Delighted to make your acquaintance, 
 jMr. Vavasour," he said. Will you kindly 
 allow me to sit down and rest ?" 
 
 " With pleasure. Take a seat. Where's 
 your friend ? Ask him to take a — why, 
 he's gone ! " 
 
 Quicksilver had not gone, but, espying 
 a bookshelf in the corner, he had made 
 a hand-spring on the table, from whence 
 he had vaulted nimbly to the top of the 
 shelf. 
 
 " Don't mind me, governor," he cried. 
 " I'm all right." 
 
 " Dear me," said JMr. Vavasour; "how 
 did he get up there ? " 
 
 " It's a way he's got," replied Jack. 
 
 " Very funny. Call him down. He 
 might fall and hurt himself." 
 
 "He's all right. Don't worry about 
 him, sir," said Jack. " You won't fall, will 
 you, Quicksy ? " 
 
 " Not much. I'm as right as the mail ? " 
 was the reply. 
 
 5Ir. Vavasour looked at Quicksilver 
 through his eyeglass wonderingly, and 
 it seemed rather difficult to make him 
 believe that he was not in danger. 
 
 " Are you going back to college to- 
 night ? '■ asked he. 
 
OU, TUE ADVEXTUKES OF TWO COLLEGE CIIUMS. 
 
 93 
 
 " No," answered Jack ; " I shall go to 
 an hotel and return in the moniing." 
 
 " I am well acquainted with several 
 boys at Eton, and am an old Etonian 
 myself. It is a fine S(!hool. I hope you 
 will grow up to he a credit to it. 13ut 
 tell nie about the subterranean passage. 
 I never had the least idea there was a 
 door behind the arras." 
 
 "The fact is, I got talking to some 
 gipsies in the park," repUed Jack, " which 
 made me late. Then we chased a rabbit 
 and fell into a hole." 
 
 At the mention of gipsies, Mr. Vava- 
 sour turned deadly pale. 
 
 " You are ill," Jack exclaimed. 
 
 " No," answered the old gentleman, 
 " only a little faint. The name of gipsies 
 always make me feel unwell." 
 
 "Rlay I ask why?" 
 
 " Certainly. What is known to all my 
 friends may certainly be known to you. 
 I had a daughter, as lovely a child as the 
 sun ever shone on. Twelve years ago 
 she was, I have every reason to believe, 
 stolen from me by some Russian gipsies." 
 
 " Ha ! " ejaculated Jack. 
 
 " Since that time I have never beheld 
 her." 
 
 " WThat was her name ? 
 
 " Effie was her name." 
 
 " By George ! " cried Jack ; " this is 
 most extraordinary. I can lind your 
 daughter, sir. She is with the gipsies 
 in the park. I have seen her to-day." 
 
 " Impossible ! " 
 
 " It is as true as I live. Is she not 
 fair, with beautiful hair ? " 
 
 « Yes— yes!" 
 
 " And lovely blue eyes ? " 
 
 " Good Heaven ; " cried the old gentle- 
 man ; " you have described her exactly." 
 
 Jack felt sure that little Effie was Mr. 
 Vavasour's long lost daughter, and he 
 proceeded to give his reason for thinking 
 so. 
 
 Ml-. Vavasom- was greatly agitated. 
 
 He paced the room, plunged in deep 
 thought, as if thinking what was the 
 best course for him to adopt. 
 
 There was a decided family likeness 
 lietween Effie and this old Knight of 
 \Mndsor. 
 
 The Kjiights of Windsor, we may 
 mention, are to some extent pensioners 
 of the Queen, who gives them ajwrt- 
 ments in the castle and a certain vearly 
 allowance. 
 
 They are for the most part gentlemen 
 who have served the crown in some 
 way, and who deserve well of their 
 sovereign. 
 
 " I will send for the police," said Mr. 
 Vavasour. "If this girl you speak of is 
 my daughter, I shall know her by a 
 mark on her left arm which resemi/ei 
 an arrow's head." 
 
 Ke rang the bell, and despatched a 
 servant for the chief of the Windsor 
 police. 
 
 Nearly an hour elapsed before the 
 arrival of this gentleman, and Mr. 
 Vavasour did not cease to ask Jack 
 questions respecting Effie. 
 
 In time he became convinced that the 
 band of gipsies, of which Ivan was the 
 head, had really stolen his daughter. 
 
 When Mr. Simpson, the chief of the 
 police, arrived, he listened attentively 
 to wMat was told him. 
 
 Being a sharp, shrewd man, he did not 
 altogether believe what Jack said about 
 falling into the subterranean passage. 
 " Tell me the whole truth, Mr. Dash- 
 I ley," said he. 
 
 I " I have told all I can," replied Jack, 
 I for he would not say anything about the 
 I cave, in order to save Bill Silver for his 
 j son's sake. 
 
 1 " There is some mystery about this," 
 
 continued Simpson. "However, I will 
 
 have the girl brought here at once." 
 
 He went to the door, where he had 
 
 I two policemen waiting, and despatched 
 
 I one to take a platoon of men into the 
 
 forest and bring Effie to the castle. 
 j \Mien he came back he looked at Jack 
 I with a smile. 
 
 I "Mr, Dashley," he exclaimed, "you 
 must consider yourself my prisoner." 
 " \^Tiat for ? " asked Jack, colouring. 
 "You have run away from Eton, 
 and I have had instructions to arrest 
 you if found, and bring you back to 
 school." 
 
 " But I am not a criminal." 
 
 " Far from it. I act for your good, 
 
 and " 
 
 " You know the law would not allow 
 you to touch me," interrupted Jack. 
 " But I will go with you, as I intend to 
 return." 
 
 " Very good." 
 
 As the chief of the police said this, he 
 cast his eyes up to the bookcase, and 
 saw Quicksilver. 
 
94 
 
 TUK .- > llOOLDAYS OK JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 •' Halloa," he cried, in surprise. 
 " Wli.it have we here ? " 
 
 " A friend of mine," replied Jack. 
 
 " I am afraid I find you in bad com- 
 pauy, sir," continued Simpson. " That 
 is Bill Silver's son." 
 
 " I know it." 
 
 " You imp of darkness, come down 
 from there, and tell me where your 
 father is ; he's wanted." 
 
 " Find out," answered Quicksilver. 
 
 Mr. Vavasour in explaining matters to 
 Simpson had told him all about the door 
 which opened into his apartment. 
 
 Simpson began to think, and came to 
 the conclusion that there was something 
 beneath the surface which as yet had 
 not come to light. 
 
 Acting on this suspicion he sent for a 
 second platoon of police, and removing 
 the arras, told them to thoroughly ex- 
 plore the subterranean passage. 
 
 No sooner was the order given than 
 Quicksilver dived as it were from his 
 perch, and eluding the grasp of Simpson, 
 darted through the doorway. 
 
 "After bim!" cried Simpson to bis 
 men, who filled the room. "He bas 
 gone to give the alarm." 
 
 To attempt to catch Quicksilver was 
 utterly useless. 
 
 He bad darted ahead, and, knowing 
 the staircase well, succeeded in getting 
 a good start. 
 
 There was no doubt that be had gone 
 to warn his father of his danger. 
 
 One policeman in bis eagerness to 
 overtake the agile and fleet-footed boy, 
 fell down the steps, breaking his arm, 
 and otherwise injuring himself. 
 
 " It is a pity, Mr. Dashley, that you 
 would not speak out," remarked Simpson 
 in a tone of annoyance. 
 
 " I could not do so then. It was a 
 point of honour ; but I will now," replied 
 Jack, 
 
 " Better late than never." 
 Jack then proceeded to relate all tbat 
 had happened to him, much to the 
 astonishment of Simpson. 
 
 " Well," he said, " that beats all. If 
 anybody bad told me that such things 
 could happen in my district I would have 
 laughed in their faces. But your in- 
 formation is important. The rajah must 
 
 he closely guarded. As for Bill Silver, I 
 have been wondering for some time where 
 he could have hidden himself. 
 Some time elapsed. 
 The sergeant who headed the platoon 
 of police which went in search of Effie 
 came back first. 
 
 ]Mr. Vavasour's anxiety was painful to 
 witness. 
 
 " Well," exclaimed Simpson, who was 
 a man of iron nerve, and never betrayed 
 any excitement. 
 
 "The gipsies have broken up their 
 camp and gone away, sir," was the 
 reply. 
 
 " Cannot you find the girl ! " 
 " We could see nothing of any of them, 
 though their tires are still burning. In 
 the morning we can follow up their 
 tracks." 
 
 Mr. Vavasour sank into a chair with 
 an exclamation of despair. 
 
 " My child, my child ! " he moaned. 
 Soon afterwards the second platoon 
 returned. 
 
 " What news ? " asked Simpson. 
 "The bird has flown, sir," was the 
 answer. 
 "How?" 
 
 " We found a cave in which is a quan- 
 tity of stolen property, but neither Bill 
 Silver nor the boy were there." 
 
 *' Baffled ! " exclaimed Simpson, biting 
 bis lips with vexation, " and by a boy." 
 Turning to Jack, be added — 
 " I will take you to the college, if you 
 please, iVir. Dashley." 
 
 " As you like, though I would rather 
 go to an hotel," repbed Jack, 
 " I cannot agree to it." 
 " All right," said Jack, shrugging his 
 shoulders. 
 
 Simpson assured 'Mi. Vavasour that be 
 would do all tbat lay in bis power to 
 reeovt-T his daughter, and after giving 
 sundry orders to his men, left the room 
 with Jack. 
 
 They got a cab in the town and drove 
 at once to the college. 
 
 The clock struck nine as they crossed 
 Barn's Pool Bridge. 
 
 Jack felt slightly uncomfortable, but 
 as he had to pass the trying ordeal of 
 going back, he wisely deemed it best to 
 get it over. 
 
OR, TOE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLKut CUUM3. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 JACK'S LUCK. 
 
 It was with some trepidation that Jack 
 saw the carriage drive up to his tutor's 
 house. 
 
 He felt very mean, and much as a 
 deserter from the army must feel when 
 he is brought back to his regiment. 
 
 He knew the boys would chaff him, 
 and fancied he could already see Funny- 
 bird Minor putting his tongue in his 
 cheek and making faces at him. 
 
 If he did, he determined that he would 
 promptly thrash him and put a stop to 
 it. 
 
 He had not much time for thinking, 
 because, when the carriage stopped, 
 Simpson hurried him into the house as 
 quickly as he would have run a prisoner 
 into a cell. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust was in his library cor- 
 recting Greek exercises, and looked up 
 in astonishment. 
 
 " What ! " he exclaimed. " Is it indeed 
 you, Dashley ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir," replied Jack, putting a good 
 face on the matter. " Come to give my- 
 self up." 
 
 " Very good. Who is that gentleman 
 with you ? " 
 
 Simpson explained who he was, and 
 gave a brief account of all that had taken 
 place, whereat jNIr. Dryasdust marvelled 
 greatly. 
 
 " Dear me," he exclaimed. "It's quite 
 a romance. Gipsies, robbers, subter- 
 ranean passages, and a lost child about 
 to be restored to a sorrowing father. 
 Poor Mr. Vavasour. How mysterious are 
 the ways of Providence. I trust he will 
 recover his little girl. Bless me, how 
 strange it all seems. I am glad though 
 you have found my plate in the cave. 
 This will be a serious affair for Timor, I 
 fe£ir I shall have to expel him." 
 
 Simpson rose to take his leave. 
 
 " Now that I have done my duty so 
 far, sir," he said, " I must go back to 
 Windsor and see that the pursuit of 
 the gipsy band of thieves is kept 
 up." 
 
 " Good evening," replied Jlr. Dryas- 
 dust. " I have to thank you very much 
 for bringing back the runaway." 
 
 " It was more accident than skill," 
 answered Simpson, adding, " Good night." 
 
 He went out, got into the carriage, and 
 was driven back to the pohce-station. 
 
 " Now, my boy," exclaimed Mr. Dryas- 
 dust. 
 
 " Now, sir," answered Jack as gaily as 
 hfc could. 
 
 " You have had some remarkable ad- 
 ventures ; and, as you have made up 
 your mind to come back, I will intercede 
 with the head master for you. I am not 
 sure, but I think I can get you off being 
 punished. 
 
 Jack was much touched at this kind- 
 ness. 
 
 "Oh, sir," he cried. "You are too 
 good. I acted hastily and deserve punish- 
 ment, but if you can gef me ofi", I will 
 promise to be a better boy in future." 
 
 " Eh, never run away again ? " 
 
 " Never," replied Jack, emphaticall}*. 
 
 " You have had a severe lesson, and I 
 will do my best for you. Dear me, how 
 dreadful it would have been if that rascal 
 Bill Silver had shot you in the cave. 
 No one would have ever known what had 
 become of you. Think of your poor 
 mother and father, what an awful blow 
 it would have been to them." 
 
 Jack did think of it. His tutor's words 
 brought the matter forcibly home to him, 
 and he could not repress a tear. 
 
 " Crying, eh," said Mr. Dryasdust. 
 
 "Can't help it, sir. I am so thankful 
 for my escape." 
 
 " Pray to-night as you never prayed 
 before, my dear boy, for indeed you have 
 much to be tliankful for. Now I want 
 to say one thing to you." 
 
 Then Mr. Dryasdust, laying his hand 
 on Jack's arm, looked him fixedly in the 
 face. 
 
 Slowly and solemnly the tutor spoke — 
 
 " You may think I am a quiet, studious 
 old man, and that I take no interest in 
 my boys," he said. 
 
 " Oh, no. I never thought that," said 
 Jack. 
 
 " I assure you I have all your welfare 
 at heart, and I want you to look lywn 
 me as your friend, and not your enemy. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 I must be a little stern at times, with so 
 many boys in my house. If the masters 
 were not strict, they could never preserve 
 order in a big school such as Eton is." 
 
 " No, sir." 
 
 " Well, then, will you try in future to 
 come to me, as you would to your father, 
 when anything trouble? you ':"' 
 
 " I will, sir." 
 
 " Depend upon it, I shall give you good 
 advice." 
 
 " I thought, sir," said Jack, " that you 
 had a spite against me, because you 
 imagined I destroyed your manuscript." 
 
 A sad sigh escaped Mr. Dryasdust at 
 this allusion to his famous work. 
 
 " It was the labour of a life," he said ; 
 "and I did feel very wretched about it. 
 Yet I am glad to tell you that I now 
 know you were not the culprit." 
 
 "You know it?" cried Jack joy full}'. 
 
 " Yes ; the knowledge came to me in 
 a very peculiar way. Funnybird Minor, 
 who does not like Timor, picked up a 
 note-book, ii* which the latter kept a 
 diary. I have the book. It was brought 
 to me by Funnybird, and in it is this 
 passage." 
 
 He handed Jack a note-book, and 
 pointed to a particular passage. 
 
 " Eead for yourself," he added. 
 
 Jack read — 
 
 " Tuesday. 
 
 "Had an opportunity of getting square 
 with Dashley for chaffing me about my 
 uncle, the gipsy. Mr. Dryasdust had a 
 manuscript book which he values highly. 
 I put it in the fire, and Dashley being 
 the only one in the library, as every one 
 thought, the blame naturally fell on him. 
 This is hit number one. I will give him 
 another soon, as I have not nearly done 
 with him." 
 
 " I always thought it was Timor, su-," 
 remarked Jack, " though I couldn't prove 
 it." 
 
 " I beg your pardon for suspecting 
 you," said the tutor manfully. 
 
 "Beg- my pardon, sir?" 
 
 " Why not ? If anyone does wrong 
 he should not be above making what 
 amends he can for it. Do not be afraid 
 of Timor, however. He will not continue 
 long at Eton to annoy you." 
 
 " What shall you do with him ? " 
 
 " Expel him. After what I've heard I 
 could not have such a boy in the house. 
 He must go. Perhaps the police will 
 
 arrest him, although I shall not advise 
 that course to be taken. It would make 
 too much scandal, and do the school no 
 good." 
 
 " I feel that that fellow will be my 
 enemy all my life," obser%-ed Jack. 
 
 " I trust not. Indeed, I do not see 
 how it can be so. He will probably return 
 to Russia, and you will be as far as the 
 two poles asunder. Anyhow, if he is 
 your enemy, you have a true friend in 
 Owen Tudor." 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 Jlr. Dryasdust told him how Owen had 
 elected to be flogged rather than reveal 
 the hiding-place of Jack. 
 
 " By Jove ! what a noble fellow he is," 
 cried Jack, delighted beyond measure at 
 this proof of his friend's devotion. 
 
 "He is, indeed." 
 
 " I always knew he was thoroughbred, 
 and I am glad I chose him for my chum." 
 
 "Let us hope you will always be 
 friends." 
 
 " I am sure I do hope so, sir, for there 
 isn't a boy in the school I like so well as 
 I do Owen." 
 
 Jack was standing up during this con- 
 versation, and his elbow rested on a pile 
 of papers which had been lying on the 
 table untouched for some time, if the dust 
 which covered them was any indication. 
 
 In moving his arm, he pushed the 
 papers over, and they fell on the floor. 
 
 A large roll of manuscript tumbled out 
 of the heap, attracting Mr. Dryasdust's 
 attention. 
 
 " Whafs that ? " he asked. 
 
 " I don't know, sir," Jack replied. 
 
 " Pick it up, if you please." 
 
 Jack did so. 
 
 " I am awfully sorry, sir, for upsetting 
 the papers, but " 
 
 " Never mind that. Give me the 
 JIS.," interrupted the tutor, who seemed 
 strangely agitated. 
 
 No sooner had he received the roll and 
 glanced at it than he uttered a cry of 
 delight. 
 
 " Heaven be praised ! " he said. 
 
 Jack was at a loss to understand what 
 he meant. 
 
 " Is it anything important, sir ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " jMy dear boy," cried Mr. Dryasdust, 
 joyfully, "you have been the humble 
 instrument under Heaven of discavering 
 the manuscript I thought burnt." 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETOiV. 
 
 No. 7. 
 
01!, TUS ADVHNTUllKS OF TWO COLLEGE CIIL'.MS. 
 
 9f) 
 
 " Eeally ? " 
 
 " It is my tiiagnum opus — my great 
 v?ork, which I thought burnt — that which 
 that bad boy Timor threw into the fire 
 must have been a bundle of exercises 
 which I looked for in vain, and my book 
 has been hidden iinder those old papers." 
 
 Tears of gratitude overflowed his 
 eyes. 
 
 ' " Give me your hand, sir," said Jack. 
 " I must congratulate you most warmly 
 on this." 
 
 They shook hands. 
 
 " Now, run away, and see your friend 
 Owen," said Mr. Dryasdust. "I am too 
 hapj)y to talk any more. Oh, my book, 
 my beloved book ! The labour of the best 
 years of my life is not thrown away after 
 all." 
 
 In his rapture, he took up the MS. 
 again, and kissed it as affectionately as a 
 father would kiss a child. 
 
 " I'm as pleased," remarked Jack, "as 
 if any one had given me a five-pound 
 note." 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust put his hand in his 
 pocket and handed him a crisp acknow- 
 ledgment of the Bank of England to pay 
 the sum of five pounds sterling. 
 
 " You have reminded me," he said, 
 " that I ought to reward you." 
 
 " Oh, no, sir. I didn't mean that." 
 
 " Take it." 
 
 " Really, sir, I would rather not." 
 
 " Take it — I insist upon it. Never did 
 any boy so well deserve it. Buy a new 
 cricket-bat or hire a boat. Do whatever 
 you like with it, only don't spend it in 
 trash at the wall." 
 
 He alluded to the "sock," or sweetstuff 
 men, who stood with their baskets at the 
 wall facing the entrance to the quad- 
 rangle. 
 
 " Very many thanks, sir," exclaimed 
 Jack ; " good night. You will make it 
 all right for me with the head master?" 
 
 " Certainly, I will. I flatter myself I 
 have a little interest in that quarter, 
 and it shall be exerted in your behalf. 
 I shall get you off with five hundred 
 lines." 
 
 "I'll do that in three days," cried 
 Jack. "Ask him to make it 'short.' 
 0\id, sir, and not Virgil. The lines are 
 so long in the iEneid." 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust smiled and promised to 
 do the best in his power, so Jack ran off 
 to his room, thinking that he haa got off 
 
 much better than he had any right to 
 expect. 
 
 Nor was he wrong in this conclusion, 
 for he had got out of the scrape remark- 
 ably well. 
 
 ilany boys would have been flogged 
 and turned down into a lower form, but 
 Jack was always a lucky fellow. 
 
 When he reached his room he heard 
 voices inside, and paused to listen. 
 
 " Get out of here," he heard Owen 
 Tudor say. 
 
 "I shan't," replied the voice of Funny- 
 bird Minor. 
 
 " Jack will welt you when he comes 
 back." 
 
 " When he does. I'll bet he's gone to 
 sea. They'll never catch him. I say, 
 Owen, taste this jam of Dashley's. It's 
 awfully spiff." 
 
 " I wouldn't be so mean as to toucli 
 anything that belongs to him, and I 
 want you to just clear out of here. I'm 
 his chum, and I don't like to see his 
 things touched." 
 
 "Take things easy, my dear boy," 
 replied Funnybird. 
 
 " You take them remarkably easy." 
 
 " It's a way I've got. Look here ; I'\'e 
 found some cold ham on the shelf. Try 
 a slice." 
 
 « Not I." 
 
 "Somebody will collar his things if 
 we don't. There's a Homer ; just what 
 I want. I lost mine yesterday, and I 
 shall bag that." 
 
 "No you won't," exclaimed Owen. 
 " When it comes to bagging a fellow's 
 books I think I ought to stop it." 
 
 " Ba-a-a, you old Welsh goat," cried 
 Funnybird. 
 
 "Do you want to fight?" asked Owen. 
 
 " If you like ; I'm not at all particular, 
 though if you hurt me I'll call my 
 brother, and he'll settle your hash. I 
 don't care for you any more than I do 
 for Dashley." 
 
 At this moment Jack opened the door. 
 
 His appearance upon the sfi-ne in 
 such an unexpected manner astonished 
 both of them. 
 
 Funnybird Minor was so upset that \w. 
 dropped the jam pot on the floor anrl 
 stood open-mouthed, speechless with 
 suqjrise, just for all the world as if he 
 had seen a ghost. 
 
 " Dashley ! " he ejaculated. 
 
 " My dear Jack," cried '" 
 
100 
 
 TDE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 come back to Eton. I am so glad to see 
 you." 
 
 He grasped his hand cordially. 
 
 '• Same to you, Owen," said Jack. 
 " What's this object doing here ? Eat- 
 ing my grub, eh ? " 
 
 " I'm very sorry, Dashley," exclaimed 
 Fuunybird. " I thought you wouldn't 
 want it." 
 
 " What business had you to think ? " 
 
 " Don't lick me this time. I'll never 
 do it again." 
 
 " No, I'll take my oath you won't. 
 However, I won't lick you this time. I 
 feel too jolly to hurt anyone to-niglit. 
 Pick up that jam pot and put it back on 
 the shelf. You've spilt some, confound 
 you ! I've a good mind to rub your nose 
 in it." 
 
 " Don't, old boy. Spoil a good mind 
 for once. I'll make it all serene." 
 
 Funnybird took up the shovel as he 
 spoke and threw the spilled jam into the 
 fire. 
 
 " Now then, hook it," said Jack. " I 
 want to talk to my chum." 
 
 "I'm going." 
 
 " Be off immediately, if not sooner." 
 
 " But tell me where you've been," per- 
 sisted Funnybird. 
 
 " If you don't go I'll give you a oner 
 in the mouth, and you'll want a new set." 
 
 "What of?" 
 
 "Teeth, you idiot," Jack replied, 
 shaking his fist. 
 
 At this threat Funnybird took himself 
 off, and the chums were alone together. 
 
 It can easily be imagined that they 
 had a great deal to talk about, and when 
 the supper bell rang they did not go 
 down, for they did not want anything to 
 eat. 
 
 It was much uicer to sit and tallc. 
 
 Owen was intensely interested by 
 Jack's account of the cave and the 
 recital of all the danger he had gone 
 through, but when he came to that part 
 of his story which related to the subter- 
 ranean passage, his delight knew no 
 bounds, and he fairly clapped his hands 
 when Jack told him about little EfEe 
 being the long-lost daughter of Vava- 
 
 " AiNTiy, it's as good as reading a book," 
 he oiied. 
 
 " I feel like a hero of romance," re- 
 plied Jack with pardonable pride. 
 
 " Aren't you lucky. Fancy being let 
 
 off, and then finding the manuscript. 
 Oh, it's almost too lovely." 
 
 At this juncture Bill Bragg entered 
 the room. 
 
 "Back again, eh. Jack?" said he 
 "All right, slap-bang, and all alive, eh?" 
 
 "Looks like it, doesn't it?" asked 
 Jack. 
 
 " A bad penny always turns up." 
 
 " Mean to say I'm a bad penny ? " 
 
 "Not at all. That's only a figure of 
 speech. You're true metal. Got the 
 genuine ring about you, and no mistake. 
 I always say you're a cock. Slap-bang, 
 and all alive." 
 
 " Thank you. Sorry I haven't got 
 half-a-crown to lend you." 
 
 " Oh, I'm not flattering for the sake 
 I of sponging. That's not me." 
 
 " Of course not. We all know that. 
 Wouldn't do it, would you ? " Jack ex- 
 I claimed sarcastically. 
 I " Not for the world ; but it's just as 
 I well you came back to-night." 
 
 « Why ? " 
 I "Timor was going to sell all yom' 
 j tilings in the room by auction to-mor- 
 ! row." 
 
 [ " Wiis he ? I'm extremely obliged to 
 him, but I don't think Mr. Timor will 
 be here to do it, even if I were inclined 
 I to let him." 
 
 "Indeed! that's news. What's the 
 trouble?" asked Bragg, who always 
 liked to hear all the news. 
 
 He was the great gossip of the house, 
 and generally knew everything about 
 everybody. 
 
 " Timor is going to be expelled," said 
 Jack. 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 " You'd better ask my tutor. That's 
 his business, not mine." 
 
 "I suppose you'll be whipped to- 
 morrow and turned down ? " 
 
 " No I shall not; so you're out there, 
 you see." 
 
 " How do you work things ? " ex- 
 claimed Bragg, in surprise. 
 
 " Oh, I don't know. Sly tutor and I 
 had a little private conversation, and he 
 welcomed me back as if I had been his 
 son and he my father." 
 
 Bragg put on a knowing look. 
 
 " Ah, I see how it is," he remarked. 
 " You know I am a friend of yours. 
 There isn't a chap in the school I have 
 a more sincere regard for, and I went to 
 
OR, THE ADVENTUKES OF TWO COLLEGE CUUilS. 
 
 101 
 
 old Dryasdust yesterday and asked him 
 lo let you off." 
 
 " Oh, what a whopper. You win turn 
 'em out." 
 
 •* It isn't a crammer. Fact, I assure 
 you. Always do a friend a good turn if 
 you can, that's me. I'm the one to help 
 a lame dog over the style. I try to act 
 like a man, slap-bang and all alive, my 
 hoy!" 
 
 Jack did not care to contradict him, 
 for he knew his weakness, and they con- 
 tinued to talk until it was time to go to 
 bed. 
 
 Susan, the boys' maid, came in to let 
 do^vn the bed, and expressed her grati- 
 fication at seeing him again. 
 
 Almost all the boys in the house came 
 up after prayers to speak to him ; he 
 had quite a lev6e. 
 
 When they had all gone away and 
 the light was removed, Owen stUl 
 lingered with his friend as they sat over 
 the fire in their nightshirts. 
 
 " Open the window," said Jack. " It's 
 awfal warm to-night." 
 
 The wind was in the south-west, and 
 it was quite mild and spring-like. 
 
 Owen threw up the window and looked 
 out. 
 
 "Halloa, Jack ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " What is it ? " 
 
 " Come here. There's something 
 climbing up the lightning-rod." 
 
 " Go on ! " said Jack, incredulously. 
 
 " There is indeed. I do believe it is 
 a monkey." 
 
 " What rot." 
 
 " It isn't rot. Come and look." 
 
 Jack did as he was requested, and 
 actually saw something as Owen had 
 described it, climbing hand over hand 
 up the lightning-rod, which ran down 
 one side of the house, passing close to 
 Jack's window. 
 
 " By Jove ! " he exclaimed. " That's 
 fuimy." 
 
 " Shall I give it a hail ? " asked Owen. 
 
 " Yes. 1 can't make it out." 
 
 " Nor I either." 
 
 Owen waited till the mysterious thing 
 came up a Uttle higher. 
 
 " I say, what are you ? " he cried. 
 
 " I'm a boy," was the reply. 
 
 " Do you make a practice of cUmbing 
 lightning-rods at night ? " 
 
 " No, I don't ; but I want to find out 
 which is the room of Jack of Eton. I 
 
 know this is the house he lives in be- 
 cause 1 inquired, and I followed in his 
 tracks." 
 
 " He means you," said Owen. 
 
 " Why," replied Jack, " it is — it nnust 
 be my faithful sprite." 
 
 " Do you mean Quicksilver, the one 
 you were telling me about." 
 
 " Just so. I say, Quicksey, is that 
 you ? " 
 
 No sooner had Jack addressed him 
 than the boy uttered a cry of joy. 
 
 " Hurrah ! " he exclaimed, " I've found 
 him. Bravo ! " 
 
 Making two or three rapid efforts, he 
 came to a level with the window and 
 sprang in like a cat. 
 
 " Well, I never," said Jack. 
 
 Quicksilver, for it was he, took Jack's 
 hand in his, and raising it to his lips, 
 kissed it with every evidence of affection. 
 
 " Oh ! " he exclaimed. " I'm so 
 pleased. I thought I wouldn't find you 
 till morning, and I meant to sleep in 
 the yard till you came out." 
 
 " But I don't know what to do with 
 you here, Quicksey," Jack replied. 
 
 " You said you would never send me 
 away and that I should be your boy. I 
 will work for you. Jack. I'll clean your 
 boots and brush your clothes. Let me 
 He on the mat." 
 
 Jack laughed. 
 
 " My dear fellow," he said, " I'll fix 
 you up a shakedown somewhere, and 
 indeed I will not send you away ; but I 
 can't have you here always. To-morrow 
 I'll find a place for you." 
 
 "Thank you. Anything is good 
 enough for me if I am near you. I'm 
 going to be an honest boy now and have 
 no master but you. Who's this ? " he 
 added, as he looked at Owen. 
 
 " JNIy chum, Owen Tudor." 
 
 " Does he love you as well as I do ? " 
 
 " I hope so. We have always been 
 the best of friends." 
 
 " And you like him ? " 
 
 " I do, first rate," replied Jack. 
 
 " Then I shall like him too ; but I 
 shan't be his boy, only yours. You may 
 do what you Uke with me — lick me if 
 you please. I'll stand to it." 
 
 " No, Quicksey, I'll never beat you," 
 Jack answered. 
 
 " I've got only you in the world now," 
 continued Quicksilver. " Father's bolted." 
 
 " Oh, has he ? Tell me about that " 
 
102 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 " You know," replied Quicksilver, 
 " that when the coppers came into the 
 room where the old swell was I cut into 
 the passage to warn father, for though 
 he's been a bad 'un to me, I can't forget 
 that he is my dad." 
 
 "Certainly not." 
 
 " Well, I gave him the ' oflfice,' and 
 he took the tipjust as straight as I gave 
 it to him, and telling me to follow, 
 hooked it out of the cave. We went to 
 the gipsies' camp, and he told Ivan all I 
 had told him. The gipsies immediately 
 struck their tents and went off, dad and 
 I going with them." 
 
 " How did you get away ? " 
 
 " Stop till i tell you. They went to- 
 wards Ascot, and I think will pitch on 
 the heath. I heard them talking, and 
 father and Ivan and little Effieare going 
 to leave the rest and hide somewhere." 
 
 " Did you hear where? " . 
 
 " No ; but they talked about ships," 
 repUed Quicksilver. 
 
 *-Ah!" said Jack, "they mean to 
 leave the country. They see the game's 
 up and will no doubt try to get to 
 Southampton." 
 
 " Shouldn't wonder. Well," continued 
 Quicksilver, " I gave them the shp as 
 soon as I could, and came to Eton. I 
 asked a boy I met where Mr. Dryas- 
 j dust's house was, because you told me 
 you lived there, and finding it, I shinned 
 up the lightning-rod and here I am." 
 
 " Capital ! " Jack exclaimed. " You're 
 a wonder, Quicksey. How you got up 
 that little bit of iron rod I can't 
 tell." 
 
 " Oh, that's nothing." 
 
 Owen had been playing with a cricket- 
 ball, and he let it drop out of the 
 window. 
 
 " Bother the thing ! " he said ; " that's 
 a new ball. I'll never see it again. 
 Some fellow will bag it before I am down 
 in the morning." 
 
 " Do you want it ? " asked Quicksilver. 
 
 " Eather." 
 
 In an instant Quicksilver was out of 
 the window and going down the rod 
 with the celerity of a lamplighter. 
 
 He picked up the ball, put it between 
 his teeth, and was up again in a flash. 
 
 " There's your ball," he said, handing 
 it to Owen. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 MRS. SODA THINKS SHE IS BADLY TREATED. 
 
 Owen Tddor and Jack did their best to 
 make up a bed for Quicksilver — one con- 
 tributed a rug and a blanket, the other 
 a sheet and a pillow. 
 
 Between the two he was made very 
 comfortable in front of the fire. 
 
 AMien Owen retired to his own room. 
 Jack wished the little waif good night, 
 and advised him to say his prayers. 
 
 '• What's that ? " asked Quicksilver. 
 " I've said a good deal in my time, but 
 never said no prayers." 
 
 Jack explained to him that it was not 
 right to go to sleep without thanking 
 heaven for all the mercies vouchsafed 
 to us during the day, and to beg for a 
 continuation of the same on the morrow. 
 
 " I don't quite tumble to it," replied 
 Quicksilver. "You'll have to tell me 
 more when you've time." 
 
 " Come here," said Jack. 
 
 The little waif crept up to him in the 
 small room, only lighted by the fitful 
 
 glimmer cast around by the fading 
 embers of the dying fire. 
 
 " Kneel down alongside of me," Jack 
 continued, "and say what I do after 
 me." 
 
 He then breathed a prayer, which, if 
 it was simple, was at least honest, coming 
 from the heart, and for the fii'st time in 
 j his Ufe Quicksilver prayed. 
 
 When Jack rose he got up too and 
 went to his bed, while Jack got into his. 
 
 Half-an-hour elapsed, and Jack was 
 nearly asleep, when Quicksilver said — 
 ' " jMaster Jack ? " 
 ! " Well ? " replied our hero. 
 I " Do you believe in ghosts and 
 bogies ? " 
 
 " No, I don't. Go to sleep." 
 
 " But look here, I do. I've seen 
 bogies in the forest, and you didn't pray 
 to have them kept out of this room, did 
 you ? " 
 
 " Oartainlv I did not." 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 103 
 
 " And why didn't you ? " 
 
 " Because I didn't think it necessary. 
 Don't ask such stupid questions." 
 
 •' Hold on a bit," continued the boy. 
 '' I have a reason for asking. I saw the 
 door open just now and a pale face looked 
 in." 
 
 At this comuiunication Jack opened 
 his e^'es. 
 
 " What was the face like ? " he 
 inquired. 
 
 •' I couldn't tell," replied Quicksilver. 
 "It looked at you, and its eyes were 
 like two burning coals." 
 
 Unable to tell why, Jack's thoughts 
 immediately reverted to Timor. 
 
 He did not believe for a moment in 
 supernatural appearances, and knowing 
 that Timor was his openly-declared 
 enemy, he associated his name with the 
 face. 
 
 " Thank you, Quicksey," he said. " I'll 
 try and keep awake." 
 
 " I'm like a weazel, and can sleep with 
 one eye open," replied the boy. 
 
 They relapsed into silence, and though 
 Jack tried to keep his senses about him, 
 he could not do so, as seductive sleep 
 stole over him. 
 
 How long he slept he did not know. 
 
 He had a bad dream, fancying that a 
 horrible serpent had crept into his bed 
 and coiled itself round him. 
 
 Gradually he was being choked to 
 death. 
 
 Every moment he breathed with more 
 difficulty, and his efforts to get breath 
 were painful in the extreme. 
 
 \Mien he awoke he was sensible of an 
 acute pain in the region of the throat, 
 and he gasped for breath. 
 
 Was the dreadful dream a reaUty ? 
 
 Collecting his thoughts, he heard the 
 sound of a scuffle in the room, and by 
 the aid of the fitful embers he saw 
 Quicksilver struggUng in the arms of 
 someone bigger than himself. 
 
 Springing out of bed he joined in the 
 contest, seizing the stranger, and exert- 
 ing all his strength, threw him on the 
 floor. 
 
 Then he knelt on his chest, compress- 
 ing his throat so as to render him 
 incapable of further violence. 
 
 " Are you hurt, Quicksey ? " he in- 
 quired. 
 
 "No, Master Jack; I'm all right. 
 We've got the bogey. If it hadn't been 
 
 for me keeping my eye open he would 
 have cooked your goose, though." 
 
 " What was he doing 'i* " 
 
 " Strangling you." 
 
 " Get a caudle. You'll find a bit on 
 the shelf where the tea things are. 
 Light it at the fire. I want to see who 
 this wretch is." 
 
 While Quicksilver was obeying his 
 order Jack's heart beat quickly. 
 
 Who was the vile creature who could 
 steal into a boy's room when he was in 
 bed, and, like a murderous Indian thug, 
 try to choke the life out of him '? 
 
 The candle was speedily lit and held 
 up over the captive's face. 
 
 " As I thought ! " exclaimed Jack. 
 " It is the villain Timor ! " 
 
 " Timor ! " ejaculated Quicksilver. 
 
 Yes, it was Timor who had tried in 
 this dastardly manner to kill the one he 
 hated so much. 
 
 The miserable wretch was nearly black 
 in the face, but Jack relinquished his 
 hold and allowed him to breathe again. 
 
 " Pardon, pardon ! " he gasped. 
 
 " Get up, you murderous villain," said 
 Jack. 
 
 "Do not hurt me," pleaded Timor. 
 
 " Don't be alarmed. I am not in the 
 habit of killing people in the dark," Jack 
 re2:)lied, scornfully. 
 
 Timor rose to his feet and Jack grasped 
 his arm. 
 
 " What are you going to do with 
 me ? " he inquired, nervously. 
 
 " I can't tell yet. I think I will take 
 you to Collington's room. He is the 
 captain of the house, and he can deal 
 with you better than I." 
 
 " Have some mercy on me," Timor 
 said. " I don't know why I came here 
 to-night. Perhaps I have an evil spirit 
 in me." 
 
 " Half-a-dozen. Their name is legion." 
 
 " It may be so. I never Uked you, 
 and something urged me to kill you. 
 Let me go ; I'll not interfere with you 
 again." 
 
 "That's what you say." 
 
 " You know, of course, that I am dis- 
 graced and ruined. I shall have to leave 
 here to-morrow. My tutor sent for me 
 after prayers and said he was going to 
 send me away from the school the first 
 thing. He knows all. You told him." 
 
 In spite of his pretended humility, 
 a vindictive glare shone in Timor's eye'*. 
 
104 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 This did not escape Jack. 
 " You Russian bear," he exclaimed. 
 "You half-bred Cossack or Tartar, or 
 whatever you are, you would kill me now 
 if you dared." 
 
 " Yes, that he would, if he got only 
 half a chance," said Quicksilver. 
 Timor turned fiercely on him. 
 
 " Hold your row," he cried. " We 
 don't want any of your jaw." 
 
 " You'll have all I want to give you." 
 
 " Silence," said Jack. 
 
 He paced up and down the room in 
 deep thought. 
 
 What was he to do with Timor ? 
 
 If he let him go to his room he had 
 no guarantee that he would not attack 
 him again in the dead of the night. 
 
 It was a perplexing situation to be 
 in. 
 
 "Come to CoUington," he exclaimed 
 at length ; "he is the proper person to 
 settle this question." 
 
 " Oh, don't take me there. Let me 
 alone. I have suffered enough, and am 
 as miserable as a fellow can be," replied 
 Timor. 
 
 " ]\Iarch, or I'll make you." 
 
 " Have some mercy," begged Timor. 
 
 " You had none on me." 
 
 Timor reluctantly walked before Jack 
 into the passage. 
 
 Quicksilver was told to remain where 
 he was. 
 
 It was inexpressibly galling to Timor 
 to be brought up before the captain of 
 the house, because he was one of the 
 " swells," and had hoped to get away in 
 the morning before his disgrace was 
 generally known. 
 
 Yet he could not help himself, and 
 with dejected air and bowed head he 
 walked along until they came into 
 CoUington's room. 
 
 Jack knocked at the door. 
 
 " Come in," said the captain of the 
 house. 
 
 He entered, pushing Timor in before 
 him. 
 
 Jack was in his nightshirt and without 
 shoes or socks. He had ngt stayed to 
 put them on. 
 
 Collington and Sutherland were sit- 
 ting at a table which was piled with 
 books, reading by the light of a student's 
 lamp. 
 
 They were going up for an examina- 
 tion shortly, and had obtained permis- 
 
 sion to bum the " midnight oil " after 
 the usual time for putting out the 
 lights. 
 
 "What's this, Dashley?" Collington 
 inquired. 
 
 " Timor attempted to strangle me 
 while I was asleep, and I have brought 
 him to you," answered Jack. 
 
 " Impossible ! " 
 
 " Ask him if you don't believe me." 
 
 Collington and Sutherland regarded 
 Timor with amazement. 
 
 " It's quite true," said the latter. " I 
 don't attempt to deny it. Dashley has 
 done me great harm. I am to be sent 
 away to-morrow through him, and " 
 
 " Don't tell such a pack of lies," inter- 
 rupted Jack. 
 
 " Well, I'm going, anyhow," continued 
 Timor. 
 
 "But what made you attempt such 
 an outrage ? " asked the captain. 
 
 " I can't tell you. I was half mad at 
 the time. Let me go away. I will get 
 out of my window and go up town to 
 some hotel, and in the morning I will 
 send for my things. It will be better 
 than being stared at by all the fellows. 
 I can't bear that." 
 
 " Are you really going ? " 
 
 " Yes. I am to be expelled to-mor- 
 row. I'm bad, I admit it ; but we have 
 been in the fifth form together, and 
 rowed in the same boat, Collington and 
 Sutherland. I have done what I could 
 to keep up the honour of the house 
 until now, and " 
 
 He broke down and burst into tears. 
 
 Jack could not believe in Timor's 
 having feeling enough to cry. 
 
 He thought of the crocodile and 
 believed rightly that he was crying from 
 monification and vexation rather than 
 because he was sorry for what he had 
 done. 
 
 In reality this was so. 
 
 The young man's pride was deeply 
 wounded. 
 
 "I'm very sorry," said Collington, 
 " that one of the fifth should be in such 
 a position. I don't ask you to tell me 
 what you have done, because it's none of 
 my business, and I don't want to give 
 you unnecessary pain." 
 
 "Thank you. All I want is to get 
 away." 
 
 " There can be no valid objection to 
 that. You can go if you want to. I 
 
THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 105 
 
 will explain all to Mr. Dryasdust in the 
 morning." 
 
 "That will do," replied Timor. "I 
 have a rope ladder in my room. Good- 
 bye, Collington ; farewell, Sutherland. 
 We may meet again in after life when 
 we are grown up, and I shall not forget 
 the kindness you have done me this 
 night." 
 
 He went away, seeming much re- 
 lieved, but he took no notice of Jack, 
 ignoring him as much as if he had not 
 been there. 
 
 ^\^^en he was gone the captain of the 
 house looked at Jack. 
 
 " What's all this shine about ? " he 
 inquired. 
 
 ♦■ It's a long story," replied Jack, 
 " and perhaps it is just as well untold." 
 
 " More mystery," remarked Suther- 
 land. 
 
 " Dashley is right," answered ColHng- 
 ton ; " let the poor beggar go. If the 
 fellows don't know anything they can't 
 talk. Cut along to bed, Dashley, you'll 
 catch cold." 
 
 Jack wished them good night, but he 
 did not go straight to bed. 
 
 He was determined to see if Timor 
 had really gone, as he did not wish to 
 feel his snake-like fingers round his 
 throat again. 
 
 Going to Timor's room he saw by the 
 light of the moon that the window was 
 open, and hanging from an iron bar 
 was the rope ladder of which he had 
 spoken. 
 
 The room was empty. 
 
 Looking out into the street he fancied 
 he saw a dim, shadowy figure going up 
 towards the college. 
 
 Presently the figure vanished from 
 sight altogether, and that was the last 
 Jack saw of Timor on that occasion. 
 
 Ketuming to his own room, he told 
 Quicksilver that the Russian was gone, 
 and they went to sleep again, this time 
 with their minds more at rest. 
 
 In the morning Susan came to call 
 Jack and light the fire. 
 
 She advanced to the fireplace, after 
 giving Jack a shake, and stumbled over 
 the body of Quicksilver. 
 
 " hor' ha' mussy ! " she cried. "What's 
 this ? " 
 
 Looking down she examined the 
 sleejjing boy. 
 
 " It's alive," she continued. " Drat 
 
 the little wretch, if it isn't a boy. Mr. 
 Dashley ! " 
 
 Jack sprang out of bed. 
 
 " What's the row, Sukey ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 "Don't you know it's agin the rules 
 to have strangers in your room ? Who's 
 this ? " 
 
 " A friend of mine." 
 
 " Is he an Eton boy ? " 
 
 "No." ^ 
 
 " So I should say, by the look of him. 
 I should think he hadn't been washed 
 for a month. I'll tell your tutor." 
 
 " Don't do that ; he's going directly ! " 
 Jack exclaimed. 
 
 "Let him go at once then. Here, 
 you, get up, d'ye hear. I'm blessed if 
 I know what the house is a-coming to. 
 Mr. Timor's gone olf in the night down 
 a ladder of rope. Get up, I say." 
 
 She took the poker and began to prod 
 Quicksilver in the ribs as if he was of no 
 more account than a pig. 
 
 This heroic treatment roused him, 
 and he jumped up, rubbing his eyes. 
 
 When he saw a stout woman making 
 prods at him with a poker, he threw up 
 the window and sprang on to the light- 
 ning conductor. 
 
 This speedily enabled him to reach 
 the ground. 
 
 " Goodness gracious ! " she cried. 
 " He's for all the world Uke a rat. I 
 never see such a thing as that in my 
 Ufe." 
 
 " That's nothing," remarked Jack, 
 laughing. 
 
 He got into bed again, while Susan 
 Ughted the fire, grumbling all the while 
 and wondering what the house was com- 
 ing to. 
 
 When Jack was dressed, he went into 
 school, meeting Quicksilver on his way, 
 for the lad was waiting for him. 
 
 " What made you cut it like that ? " 
 Jack asked. 
 
 " I wasn't going to stay to be poked 
 in the ribs by that woman," replied 
 Quicksilver. " I'd just as soon be hyked 
 by a cow." 
 
 Jack gave him some money to get 
 some breakfast with, and told him to 
 meet him after twelve at the beginning 
 of the Slough Road, near Fifteen-arch 
 Bridge, which he promised to do. 
 
 During the morning Jack was anxi- 
 ously engaged in considering what he 
 
IOC 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 could do for the little waif he had taken 
 under his charge. 
 
 He determined to conduct him to Mr. 
 Benjamin Soda's, and ask that gentle- 
 man to employ ham as page. 
 
 That would give him some employ- 
 ment and enable hun to be close to Jack, 
 which was what the boy wanted more 
 than anything else. 
 
 When school was over, he and Owen 
 hurried to the bridge, where they dis- 
 covered Quicksilver on the parapet, gaz- 
 ing into the placid depths of Fallow's 
 pond. 
 
 "Well, my little man," exclaimed 
 Jack. " Did you have a good feed ? " 
 
 "First class!" replied Quicksilver. 
 "A reg'lar tightener and no mistake. 
 Sassengers, eggs, cold boiled beef, 'am, 
 and new bread and lots of butter." 
 
 " That's good," said Jack. " You 
 won't hurt till dinner. " Now I'm going 
 to see if a friend of mine won't have you 
 as a page." 
 
 " What's that ? " 
 
 " Boy to wait on table and run errands, 
 clean the knives and polish the boots." 
 
 " That'll do. " I'm on," said Quick- 
 silver. 
 
 They walked up the road until they 
 reached INIr. Soda's house. 
 
 All was still and quiet within. 
 Some beautiful spangled bantams 
 were strolling about in a wire house, and 
 they attracted Jack's attention. 
 
 " Those would be nice for lunch," he 
 remarked. 
 
 " Splendid ! " replied Owen. " But 
 what's the use of talking about it ? " 
 
 " A good deal of use. I'll send my 
 sprite in for them. \Ve will make them 
 a present to old B, and S., and I'll 
 undertake that he shall invite us to 
 dinner." 
 
 "W^ill you, really?" asked Owen, 
 delightedly. 
 
 "Wait till you see. Quicksey, my 
 man." 
 
 "Yes, Master Jack. \\Tiat do you 
 want with this distinguished individual ? " 
 replied Quicksilver. 
 
 "Get over that wire fence and 
 collar two pairs of the spangled bantams, 
 wring their necks and chuck them out." 
 Like a squirrel the boy climbed up 
 the fence and got into the enclosure 
 where the fowls wei-e placidly picking, 
 unsuspicious of coming evil. 
 
 With his accustomed rapidity of action, 
 he caught the spangled bantams and 
 killed them, after which he rejoined his 
 master. 
 
 Jack took the fowls in his hand, and 
 knocked at the door, which was opened 
 by Mr. Soda in persoiu 
 
 "Ah, my dear boys," he exclaimed. 
 " You have come to call upon me. In- 
 deed you do me honour. Welcome — all 
 hail." 
 
 " See what I've brought you, sir," 
 remarked Jack, holding up the fowls. 
 
 Professor Soda was a little short- 
 sighted, and he simply saw that it was a 
 present of chickens. 
 
 " Capital. Very nice indeed ; we will 
 have them for lunch. You shall all have 
 lunch with me. C!ome into the kitchen 
 while I give my orders," he said. 
 
 They followed him into the kitchen, 
 while Quicksilver winked and blinked at 
 Owen, until that young gentleman had 
 to stuff his handkerchief into his mouth 
 to prevent himself firom laughing. 
 
 Mrs. Soda was sitting near the fire, 
 and the cook, a red-faced woman, of forty 
 or upwards, was fanning her face with a 
 frying pan in lieu of anything better. 
 
 " Oh dear, oh dear ! " she groaned, 
 " he treats me so badly." 
 
 As she raised her eyes, she saw Dashley 
 and the others. 
 
 "Good day, Mr. Bashley," she con- 
 tinued. 
 
 " Dashley, ma'am ! " he promptly said, 
 correcting her. 
 
 " Ah, to be sure, Mr. Ashley. " Glad 
 to see you. That wretch there, whom 
 I have the misfortune to call my hus- 
 band, locked up the cupboard in which 
 we keep our spirits. Now, Mr. Cashley, 
 you know my family doctor advises me 
 to take a leetle — just a leetle — drop ol 
 gin occasionally, medicinally. It is 
 absolutely necessary, Mr. Fashley." 
 
 " It's a D, ma'am," he cried, adding — 
 " Confound the woman, she'll go through 
 the alphabet soon if she goes on this 
 way." 
 
 "Well, as I was saying, Mr. Gtishley — " 
 " Ah, hang it all, I can't stand 
 Gashley," he interrupted. 
 
 " Pardon me, I mean Hashley." 
 "Now you're making a hash of it." 
 " So I am. Excuse me, my dear Mr. 
 Mashley," said IShs. Soda, " but my hus- 
 band stopped my gin— that's the fact. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTUllES OF TWO COLLEGE CUUMS. 
 
 107 
 
 However, 'Liza the cook procured me 
 some, just to settle my nerves, and I'm 
 feeling better." 
 
 " You've been drinking again," ex- 
 claimed JMr. Benjamin Soda. 
 
 " Not at your expense," she replied, 
 with ineflfabie scorn. " Oh, Mr. Mashley, 
 I'm so badly treated — I'm such a victim ; 
 but what have you there ? " 
 
 "A present of fowls, ma'am — lovely 
 sjjangled bantams." 
 
 "Ah, very nice. 'Liza, some more 
 medicine." 
 
 The cook gave her a glass of gin and 
 water, which she drank rapidly and with- 
 out winking. 
 
 " Fowls ! " she repeated, abstractedly ; 
 " bangled spantams — no, that isn't it — 
 spantled banghams ; that's right. Thank 
 you very much, JMr. Pashley, for the 
 for the beautiful spantled banghams." 
 
 The professor gave orders to the cook 
 to get them ready as soon as possible, 
 which she proceeded to do without loss 
 of time. 
 
 His better halfs gaze became concen- 
 trated on Quicksilver, who, without any- 
 one noticing him, had climbed up on 
 the top of the di-esser, and was calmly 
 sun-eying the scene below. 
 
 "^^'hat is that, please, perched up 
 there ? " she demanded. " Can you tell 
 me, jMi-. Quashley ? " 
 
 " A boy I have brought to you, 
 ma'am," replied Jack, who had given up 
 all hojje of her pronouncing his name 
 correctly. "He wants to be a page 
 boy." 
 
 " Just what we require. It would 
 give a tone to the house and an air of 
 respectability which it is somewhat lack- 
 ing at present." 
 
 "Hear, hear ! " said Mr. Soda. 
 
 " What's that you say ? " asked his 
 wife, shar^jly. 
 
 "Nothing, my dear. You can hire 
 him if you like. Give him half-a-crown 
 a week and his board. We have a suit 
 
 I of livery which the last boy we had used 
 I to wear. He ran away, you know." 
 
 " Yes, he was a bad boy, and I was 
 not sorry to lose him. Mr. Squashley, 
 please call him down. We will dress 
 him up and see how he looks." 
 
 Quicksilver was called down, and the 
 livery of the last page brought out of a 
 lumber closet. 
 
 The suit was decidely small for Quick- 
 silver, but they took him into another 
 room and forced him into it. 
 
 " Oh," said he, as they buttoned the 
 last button of the jacket, " I can't 
 breathe. I'm afraid to move. If I do I 
 shall bust up the suit. Let me out." 
 
 " Can't be done," answered Jack, 
 gravely shaking his head. " Come and 
 show yourself." 
 
 He marched him into the kitchen. 
 
 " Here he is ma'am," he added. 
 
 " And how very nice he looks," said 
 Mrs. Soda. " Pick up my handkerchief, 
 Alphonse. I shall call him Alphonse 
 because it is pretty and French, Mr. 
 Dashley." 
 
 Quicksilver made a wry face. 
 
 He attempted to stoop for the hand- 
 kerchief, but made three ineffectual 
 attempts. 
 
 The perspiration stood on his brow. 
 
 He trembled violently all over. 
 
 At last he made a prodigious effort, 
 and grasped the fluttering cambric, but 
 at the same time there was a loud 
 report. 
 
 His trousers had split up the back, 
 and every button had flown off the 
 jacket. 
 
 The collapse was perfect, the catas- 
 trophe complete. 
 
 "Take him away," said Mrs. Soda, 
 hiding her face. " He is a failure." 
 
 Quicksilver was conducted back to the 
 other room and divested of his livery. 
 
 "I know'd what was a-comin'," he 
 said, pathetically. " It was only a ques- 
 tion of time." 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 THE NEW PAGE. 
 
 It was useless to attempt to patch up 
 the Hvery that Quicksilver had burst, 
 BO he put on his old clothes and returned 
 to the kitchen. 
 
 Mrs. Soda had been much annoyed at 
 the collapse of the suit. 
 
 " Set to and help the cook pluck the 
 bangled spantams," she said, " and you 
 
TUJi aCUOOLDAYS 01' JACK AT ETON : 
 
 shall have a new livery in a daj or two. 
 If you burst that, I'll beat you more for 
 that than anything." 
 
 " Easy my dear, gently over the 
 stones," exclaimed 5Ir. B. and S. "'VS'Tiat 
 are the words of the poet ? " 
 
 "Poetry is trash." 
 
 "Not so, my love. Poetry is the 
 highest form of expression of which the 
 human mind is capable; he says that 'a 
 soft answer tumeth away wrath.' " 
 
 " Rubbish ! " replied JNIrs. Soda. " Go 
 apstairs and wait for lunch. If you 
 say anything more, I'll " 
 
 "Don't, my angel," he interrujjted ; 
 " what are the words of the poet? ' A 
 virtuous woman is five shilUngs — I mean 
 a crown — to her husband.' " 
 
 " Where's my whip ? " cried INIrs. Soda. 
 
 At this threat, Mr. Benjamin beckoned 
 to the lads and hastened away, as he 
 did not wish to subject himself to the 
 pains and penalties which his wife 
 usually inflicted upon him. 
 
 They gained his study, which was just 
 over the kitchen. 
 
 A dumb waiter communicated with 
 the regions below, and enabled anything 
 to be sent up by means of a tray and a 
 pulley. 
 
 " Suppose we have a little mild ale, 
 my dear boys," said Jlr. Soda. " I have 
 a cask downstairs ; touch the bell, 
 Dashley." 
 
 Jack did so, and the next minute the 
 doors of the dumb waiter flew open, and 
 Quicksilver put his head into the room. 
 
 "What's wanted, guv'nor?" he de- 
 manded. 
 
 Mr. Soda adjusted his spectacles, and 
 stared wildly at the apparition. 
 
 " Why bless me," he exclaimed, " if 
 it is not that boy ; I am afraid he is a 
 rough diamond. Who'd have thought 
 of his coming up that way ? " 
 
 " Short cut," replied Quicksilver, "and 
 saves the stairs. I saw the hole, and I 
 cut up it." 
 
 "Come here. You mustn't do it 
 again." 
 
 Quicksilver entered the room and 
 winked at Jack and Owen. 
 
 " I shall have to whip you, if you don't 
 do what you are told," said JNIr. Soda, 
 taking up a cane. " For what are the 
 words of the poet — ' Spare the child and 
 spoil the rod.' I mean " 
 
 He paused abruptly, for Quicksilver 
 
 began to climb up the bell-rope, being 
 frightened, but it gave way with a crash. 
 
 "Hang the boy," cried Mr. Soda. 
 " What's he up to now ? " 
 
 Quicksilver skipped round the room, 
 with the rope in his hand, while Mr. 
 Soda pursued him with the cane. 
 
 Jack and Owen began to sing — 
 
 " Oh, what are yon np to now 1 
 Oh, what are yon np to now ? 
 1 tell yon my son, 
 I'll stop all yonr fun, 
 Oh, my, what a dreadful row ! " 
 
 Thwack went the cane on Quicksilver's 
 back, and with a cry of pain, he darted 
 on the table, and climbed up on the gas 
 lamps. 
 
 No sooner was he seated, than the 
 pipe gave way, and down he came, as he 
 had done with the bell-rope. 
 
 The globes were smashed, but he 
 wasn't hurt, and extricating himself from 
 the debris, he looked indignantly at Mr. 
 Soda. 
 
 " What kind of a house do you call 
 this, anyhow ? " he asked, with an air of 
 injured innocence. 
 
 "How dare you break my fumitm-e 
 and fixings ? " retorted Soda. 
 
 "Have'em made strong enough to 
 bear me. I ain't 'eavy." 
 
 " A gas chandeUer is not made to sit 
 on." 
 
 " 'VMiy didn't you tell me so ? " 
 
 "Get out, you young rascal," cried 
 Soda, aiming another blow at him ; but 
 Quicksilver made for the shaft of the 
 dumb waiter, and was out of sight like a 
 shot. 
 
 A sprite could not have vanished 
 through a stage trap more rapidly. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Soda groaned deeply. 
 
 " You've made me a nice present in 
 that page," he said. " I wish I could 
 have caught him, I'd have tanned him. 
 Why can't he sit on a chair, like any 
 ordinary Christian ? " 
 
 "Not knowing, can't say," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 "Let us improve the opportunity," 
 continued Professor Soda, taking down a 
 book. What are the words of the poet ? 
 ' How doth the busy bee improve each 
 shining horn-.' Here is a copy of 
 Euclid." 
 
 " I didn't come to work, sir," said 
 Jack. 
 
 " Nor I," remarked Owen. 
 
on, THE ADVENTUllES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 " Let us take the first proposition. If 
 A he the centre of the circle B C D " 
 
 Kehictantly, the boys worked out the 
 problem until they came to the Q E D, 
 and by that time the lunch was ready. 
 
 They ate it with a good appetite, ]\Ir. 
 Soda especially enjoying the meal and 
 pronouncing the bantams excellent. 
 
 Scarcely liad they finished, when Mrs. 
 Soda entered the room. 
 
 " Benjamin," she exclaimed. 
 
 " My sweet life, what is it ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " You're a fool." 
 
 " You have informed me of the fact, 
 my love, on several previous occasions, 
 but if I may venture to inquire, what 
 particular form has my folly taken this 
 time ? " 
 
 " These boys have imposed upon you." 
 
 " How, my dear ? " 
 
 "I had my suspicions about these 
 bangled spant — spangled bantams, you 
 know, so I went into the yard." 
 
 " Well ? " 
 
 " Your fowls, my fowls, our fowls," she 
 went on in a crescendo voice, " are miss- 
 ing. The boys have killed them and 
 made you a present of what belongs to 
 you. In fact you have been eating your 
 own bantams." 
 
 " Confusion ! " cried Mr. Soda. " They 
 cost me a guinea a pair." 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " said his wife, in a tone of 
 triumph. " Aren't you a fool now ? " 
 
 " I am," replied the professor, emphati- 
 cally. 
 
 "Don't you think I ought to beat you 
 more for that than anything ? " 
 
 "Forbear, my dear," he exclaimed. 
 "What are the words of the poet? 'You 
 may bray a fool in a mortar, yet will not 
 his folly depart from him.' I acknow- 
 ledge my fault ; transfer your wrath to 
 those who ought to be the rightful vic- 
 tims of it. I mean the boys." 
 
 "It's a good suggestion," answered 
 Mrs. Soda, who raised her stick threaten- 
 ingly- 
 
 Jack and Owen had been edging 
 towards the door, as they saw the storm 
 brewing, and now they made a dash for 
 the open. 
 
 Before she could reach them, they had 
 gained the garden, and taking off their 
 hats, bowed politely. 
 
 " Good day, ma'am," said Jack banter- 
 ingly. " I'd like to atAy for a mouth, 
 
 but I have pressing business at Eton, 
 which calls me away." 
 
 " You wretch ! " she cried. 
 
 " Awfully sorry, you know, ma'am." 
 
 " After them, Benjamin ; you know I 
 am a little lame." 
 
 " I — I don't see the use of it," replied 
 Mr. Soda. 
 
 " Don't hurry yourself, old B. and S.," 
 exclaimed Owen. " We can wait." 
 
 " I'll have my revenge some day, my 
 lad." 
 
 " No doubt we shall meet in the sweet 
 by-and-bye," remarked Jack. 
 
 Mrs. Soda turned fiercely on her hus- 
 band. 
 
 " WiU you see me gibed and mocked 
 at," she asked, "and call yourself a 
 man ? " 
 
 " There is as much manhood in me, 
 my dear, as you have left me," he ob- 
 served. 
 
 " Oh, so you take the boys' part, do 
 you ? " 
 
 "No, indeed; you misunderstand " 
 
 "I do not. Oh, I'll beat you more 
 for that than anything." 
 
 " Hold thy hand," he cried, retreating 
 into a comer. " What are the words of 
 the poet ? ' Strike but hear me ! ' Shake- 
 speare, hem ! " 
 
 His further utterance was cut short by 
 his wife making a furious attack on him, 
 which compelled him to take up a chair 
 and act on the defensive to ward off her 
 blows. 
 
 The boys left them at it, and walked 
 leisurely along the road. 
 
 " I hate to leave that happy family," 
 said Jack. 
 
 " Quicksilver will have a hot time of 
 it," replied Owen. " I don't think he'll 
 stay." 
 
 " If he doesn't I don't know whatever 
 I can do for him," Jack remarked. " I 
 have done my b;^st." 
 
 They did not go straight home, but 
 made a detour through the little village 
 of Datchet, intending to return by way 
 of the playing fields. 
 
 A lonely house, standing in its own 
 grounds, and surrounded by a brick wall, 
 attracted their attention. 
 
 The garden was overnm with wild 
 weeds, the shrubs grew in the wildest 
 luxuriance, the windows were grimed with 
 dust, and it appeared not to have been 
 tenanted for some time. 
 
no 
 
 TUE SCUOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON | 
 
 " What a ghostly-looking mansion," 
 observed Owen. 
 
 " There's a face at the top window," 
 cried Jack. 
 
 " So there is. Look ! It is gone 
 now." 
 
 " Didn't the face strike you as being 
 familiar ? " Jack asked. " It did me." 
 
 " Yes ; I thought I knew it. Timor, 
 wasn't it ? " 
 
 " If I am not mistaken, yes, Owen, 
 old fellow. I'll lay the Bank of England 
 to a Bath bun or a China orange, that it 
 was Timor." 
 
 " ^Vhat is he doing there ? " 
 
 "Now you've got me. I never was 
 good at riddles. Ask me an easier one. 
 All I can say is, there must be some 
 mystery about it." 
 
 A man was seen coming out of the 
 house, and they waited tiD he emerged 
 from the weed-grown garden through 
 the street into the road. 
 
 " I say, master," exclaimed Jack, "who 
 lives here ? " 
 
 " Dunno," replied the man. 
 
 " Is the house let ? " 
 
 " It was let yesterday, and the parties 
 have just moved in, I'm doing odd jobs 
 for them." 
 
 " How many are there ? " 
 
 " That's none of your business," replied 
 the man surlily. 
 
 "^Vhat's the name of the family?" 
 Jack persisted. 
 
 " If I knew I don't see that I have any 
 call to tell you." 
 
 " You're a sweet boy, you are," Jack 
 said. 
 
 " The pump won't work, the sucker's 
 dry," answered the man, with a laugh. 
 
 " Oh, you're a beauty — I dou"t thinl<." 
 
 " What you think don't matter much 
 to nobody. If anybody asks you who 
 lives in that house you can teU them you 
 don't know, same as I did." 
 
 Chuckling to himself, the man went 
 on his way, lea\'ing the boys bafHed. 
 
 " He was one too many for us," ob- 
 serv'ed Owen. 
 
 " No matter ; he's been told to hold 
 his tongue, and that only increases the 
 mystery. I'll keep my eye on that 
 house. Timor is my openly avowed 
 enemy, and I have a right to watch 
 him." 
 
 Owen perfectly concurred in this 
 opinion, for he imagined that Timor 
 
 could not be living so near Eton with 
 any good purpose in \-iew. He had been 
 expelled from the school, and ought to 
 have gone up to London to his family. 
 
 But then Timor was a peculiar fellow, 
 and rarely did what anybody else would 
 do. 
 
 It struck Jack that he might have 
 joined Ivan and Bill Silver. 
 
 Perhaps the three of them had taken 
 refuge in the old house, thinking that 
 the police would never dream of looking 
 for them in such a place. 
 
 In fact it was the last spot that even 
 an intelligent superintendent like Simp- 
 son would have thought of searching for 
 them. 
 
 Owen advised Jack to communicate 
 his suspicions at once to the police, but 
 this Jack refused to do. 
 
 He said that he was not going to do 
 the dirty work of the pohce, and though 
 Timor had behaved badly to him, he 
 would not be the first to put him and his 
 friends in a prison cell. 
 
 " I'll keep a watch on the house to 
 gratify my own curiosity," he said, "and 
 because I may learn something of little 
 Effie, whom I want to restore to her 
 father, I\Ir. Vavasour. But I will not 
 play into the hands of Simpson." 
 
 " Perhaps you are right. Jack," replied 
 Owec. " I didn't look at it in that 
 way." 
 
 " I'm no thief-taker," Jack went on. 
 "You know, Owen, we have to remember 
 first of all that we are gentlemen." 
 
 " Yes, I acknowledge that," said Owen ; 
 " and though I am only a schoolboy I 
 always try to think that we ought to 
 remember we owe something to om-selves 
 and the school we belong to." 
 
 " Floreat Etona," * cried Jack. 
 
 They were hurrying along in order to 
 get back to their house in time for dinner, 
 and leaping the stile which led into the 
 playing fields, they saw Bill Bragg. 
 
 " I'll give you a back," said Jack. 
 
 " Hump up," answered Bragg. 
 
 Jack made him " a back," and Bragg 
 took a run, but he had no sooner put his 
 hands on Jack, than the latter fell flat, 
 letting Bill fall on his head. 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed Jack, Owen 
 joining in his merriment. 
 
 • F/ffreat Etona, "May Eton flourish," is the 
 motto of the coUege. 
 
OK, TUE ADVt^XL'KKS OK TWO COLLEUE CU0M3. 
 
 ill 
 
 " That wasn't fair," cried Bill. 
 
 " Why not ? You're so heavy. I 
 slipped." 
 
 "You've given me the gravel rash. 
 Look at my face. I owe you one for 
 that." 
 
 " Oh, it's all right. Give me a back," 
 said Jack. " It's the same for you and 
 me." 
 
 Bragg smiled at this proposition, for 
 he thought he saw a chance of getting 
 square with his tormentor, as he intended 
 to do to Jack just what the latter had 
 done to him. 
 
 "Go it!" he cried. "I'm down. Slap- 
 bang and all alive." 
 
 When he stooped, Jack ran up, but 
 instead of leaping over him, he gave him 
 a kick which caused him to double him- 
 self up without any trouble whatever. 
 
 " Oh, my ! " exclaimed Bragg, picking 
 himself up. " If you ain't the meanest 
 man of my acquaintance. Don't you do 
 that any more." 
 
 " Give me the same chance, and I 
 will." 
 
 " Not if I know it. Do you remember 
 my telling you how I have knocked a 
 fellow's front teeth out with one blow of 
 my fist, and no kid ? " 
 
 " Don't terrify us, Billy," said Owen. 
 
 Bragg continued to tell awful stories 
 of what he had done in former times 
 under similar circumstances, and the 
 boys listened to him as they returned to 
 college, yet they did not believe him, for 
 they had got to know that he was not a 
 strict adherent to truth. 
 
 They were just in time for dinner, for 
 which they had very little appetite after 
 eating ]Mr. Benjamin Soda's spangled 
 bantams, but they appeared at table 
 to save themselves from getting into 
 trouble. 
 
 "I can't eat anything," said Owen. 
 "Can you, Jack?" 
 
 "Not a mouthful," rei^lied Jack. "But 
 we will go through the motions." 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 SUMMER HALF. 
 
 The time passed quickly. 
 
 Summer succeeded spring, and the 
 " dry bobs " devoted themselves to the 
 pursvut of cricket, while the "wet bobs," 
 as they were called, disported themselves 
 on the river, and the younger members 
 of the school looked forward to the time 
 when they would either be in the cricket- 
 ing eleven or in the boats, the latter 
 distinction being the great ambition of 
 the boating fraternity. 
 
 No boy at Eton is allowed to go on 
 the river until he has passed an examina- 
 tion in swimming. 
 
 This is why we never hear of an 
 Eton boy being drowned on the 
 Thames. 
 
 Both Jack and Owen speedily learned 
 to swim, and they both passed at the 
 same time. 
 
 The next thing to do was to hire a 
 boat for the season, and they went down 
 to the rafts at the Brocas Meadows to 
 choose one. 
 
 There were three rafts — Tolloday's, 
 Goodman's, and Searle's. 
 
 J'/t as they neared the bridge, they 
 
 encountered Funnybird Minor, who ac- 
 costed them. 
 
 " Going to choose a boat, Dashley ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 " ^Vhat's that to you ? " replied Jack, 
 who had never liked him. 
 
 " Not much ; only I have a skiff at 
 Tolloday's, and if you and Tudor like you 
 can have half of it." 
 
 " Declined with thanks," answered 
 Jack. 
 
 " You won't accept my offer ? " 
 
 " Not to-day, baker. Call to-morrow 
 with a country cottage." 
 
 " All right. Here's your friend. Bill 
 Bragg. Perhaps you would prefer to 
 pull in with him ? " 
 
 " I shan't ask you who I shall chum 
 with." 
 
 " Perhaps it's as well. I see you are 
 not at all particular," said Funnybird, 
 with a meaning glance at Owen. 
 
 " Is that meant for me ? " inquired 
 Owen. 
 
 " You can take it as you like. If the 
 cap fits, wear it," repUed Funnybird. 
 
 Owen clenched his fist and ran at him, 
 
U2 
 
 THE SCUOOLDAYS OF JACK A I 
 
 ro.N ; 
 
 but Funnybird was on his guard, and 
 dived down an alley. 
 
 "Ma-a-a, ba-a-a, you Welsh goat! "he 
 cried, as he disappeared. 
 
 Owen was swelling with rage and 
 indignation. 
 
 " I only wish I was big enough to 
 lick that fellow," he said. 
 
 " We can do it between us," answered 
 Jack. " Let us give him a combination 
 licking." 
 
 Owen laughed at this idea, and soon 
 recovered his good humour. 
 
 Wlien Bill Bragg came up with them, 
 he informed them that he had hired a 
 splendid sldff at Goodman's for the 
 season, and all he paid was three guineas. 
 
 He added that if they liked to go in 
 wif h him they could pay a pound a piece. 
 
 This proposition seemed a good one to 
 the boys, more especially as Bragg 
 promised to teach them how to row. 
 
 This was his second summer half, and 
 he had arrived at the proud position of 
 being able to " sit " an outrigger. 
 
 " All right," he said, when they agreed 
 to share his boat with him. " Give me 
 a skiv ajiiece, and the thing is done. 
 Slap-bang and all alive." 
 
 They handed him the money, and he 
 led the way to the raft to show them 
 the boat. 
 
 " It's a darling," he continued. " You 
 never saw such a daisy in your life. I 
 call it a regular wave splitter. When 
 you see it you'll say our gallant ship's a 
 beauty, or I'm no judge." 
 
 When they reached the raft they saw 
 the boat, which was named the " Lily," 
 and a light, prettily-made, neatly-cut 
 craft she was. 
 
 The boys were delighted with her. 
 
 The lad in attendance at the raft 
 launched her, and they got in. 
 
 " I'll take the rudder hnes and steer," 
 said Bragg ; " get into the bow, Owen ; 
 you row stroke, Dashley." 
 
 They just took their jackets and waist- 
 coats off, not staying to put on flannels, 
 as this was their first outing on the 
 Eiver Thames. 
 
 At first tlicy were a little awkward, 
 and caught crabs and kicked over their j 
 stretchers, but in time they learnt to i 
 feather, and by the time they reached 
 the Brocas Clump, they were in a great i 
 state of perspiration, yet rowing fairly 
 together. j 
 
 Under the railway bridge Jack caught 
 a crab, and went into the bottom of the 
 boat, and at Cuckoo Weir Owen hit Jack 
 in the back with his oar, because he did 
 not keep stroke, nearly kuocking the 
 wind out of him. 
 
 By the time they reached Lower Hope 
 they were rowing well together, gaining 
 the applause of Bragg. 
 
 " I tell you," said Bill, " that I am 
 proud of you two fellows. I never 
 coached a better pair in my life. You'll 
 do." 
 
 " Think so ? " replied Jack. 
 
 "Ay, I do think so. I like your style, 
 and I'll venture to say that you'll both 
 be in the boats if you stay." 
 
 " I'm awfully tired," remarked Owen. 
 
 " So am I," said Jack ; " I ache all 
 over, and my hands are all blisters." 
 
 " Oh, you've got to put up with that. 
 It will go off after a bit," replied Bragg. 
 " I was just as sore as if I had bceo 
 beaten, when I started rowing. Noi» 
 I'm slap-bang and all alive. Turn into 
 this dead water." 
 
 He pointed to a sheet of water leading 
 out of the river on the left-hand side. 
 
 " Where does it go to ? " inquired 
 Jack. 
 
 "To Clewer Mill." 
 
 They pulled into the dead water, 
 which was an agreeable " ease up " from 
 rowing against the stream. 
 
 The banks of the dead water were 
 fringed with alders and willows, which 
 made them look very pretty. 
 
 A couple of swans, belonging to the 
 Thames Conservancy board, were swim- 
 ming about, and hissing at the approach 
 of strangers like snakes. 
 
 The next moment, with expanded 
 wings, they hurried towards the boat. 
 
 Jack tried to drive the swans away, 
 and after a while succeeded. 
 
 "I'll bet," exclaimed Bill Bragg, 
 " that one of those swans has a nest of 
 eggs. I never ate a swan's egg in my 
 life, but I'd dearly love to." 
 
 " ^Vhy shouldn't you ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " The eggs of these swans, my dear 
 boy, are private property," replied Bill, 
 " find if we were caught bagging them, 
 we should get into trouble." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " We should get into cliokey." 
 
 " I don't care," said Jack. " Do you, 
 Owen ? " 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON. 
 
 No. 8. 
 
OR, THE ADN-ENTUKES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 115 
 
 " N ot in the slightest degree,"answered 
 Owen. " If Bragg really requires swans' 
 eggs for breakfast he shall have them. I 
 think we ought to do what we can for 
 him after the able and skilful way in 
 which he has coached us up the river." 
 
 " Hear, hear ! " from Jack. 
 
 " Hear, hear, myself," put in Bragg. 
 " I like to be praised. Flattery is sweet, 
 but swans' eggs are sweeter. My gallant 
 crew, piratically strike that swans' strong- 
 hold and procure me the dainties I 
 desire. Once, when I was in the Isle 
 of Man, I lived for a month on swans' 
 eggs, I did. Slap-bang and all alive." 
 
 " Why, I thought you said you never 
 tasted one," exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " Hum ! not lately, I meant. That 
 was a reminiscence of the past. Now, 
 then, a strong pull, a long pull, and a 
 pull altogether." 
 
 They bent to their oars, and shot the 
 boat under some willows into the bank. 
 
 " Easy all," cried Bragg. " Back 
 water ! That's your sort ! Ship ! " 
 
 They shipped their oars. Owen sprang 
 on shore with the painter in his hand, 
 made the boat fast, and the others 
 followed him. 
 
 The place on which they bad landed 
 was what is called an " eyot," or island, 
 about half-a-mile long, and a quarter of 
 a mile in diameter. 
 
 It was thickly studded with willows, 
 and the rank riverside grass and reeds 
 grew in profusion. 
 
 The swans, seeing that enemies were 
 near their resting-place, speedily gained 
 the shore, and while the female went to 
 cover the eggs which she had only left 
 for a short time, the male showed a bold 
 front. 
 
 Owen, who was as venturesome as 
 most Welshmen are, had run on ahead 
 to find the nest. 
 
 By following the female, he quickly 
 succeeded in his intention, and found 
 the female standing in front of a beauti- 
 fully-made nest with three eggs in it. 
 
 A boy is always excited at the sight 
 of eggs, and the bigger the eggs are, the 
 more excited he gets. 
 
 " Oh, Jack ! " he cried ; " oh, Bill, 
 come here. I've found the nest. It's 
 got three eggs in — such beauties — you 
 never saw anything like them." 
 
 " I hope they're not sat on," said 
 Bragg. 
 
 " Don't look like it ; they're just M 
 white as snow. " Shall I take them?" 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 There was no one looking. 
 
 Their boat was hard by, and it seemed 
 the easiest thing in the world to take 
 the eggs home. 
 
 " It will be just one apiece," remarked 
 Jack, who had an eye to a swan's egg for 
 himself. 
 
 But Owen did not understand swans ; 
 he was not well up in natural history, 
 and did not know that when these birds 
 were incubating they will fight like 
 demons in defence of their eggs or their 
 young. 
 
 They have prodigious power in their 
 wings, being frequently known to break 
 a man's arm at a single blow with one of 
 their pinions. 
 
 " Oh, here's a picnic," said Owen, as 
 he stooped down to pick up the 
 eggs. 
 
 The female swan, however, objected 
 to his interference with her domestic 
 arrangements, and flying up in the air, 
 gave him a blow on the side of the 
 head which sent him sprawling. 
 
 " Gone to grass," cried Bragg. 
 " Winged hini, by Jingo ! " 
 
 "Very neatly grassed indeed," said 
 Jack ; " and," he added, " so are you," 
 for at that moment the male bird 
 attacked Bragg, knocking him over as 
 easily as if he had been a comer-pin in 
 a skittle alley. 
 
 " By Jove ! " exclaimed Bragg, " I'll 
 give that bird something." 
 
 He picked up a stick and hit the swan 
 on the head, causing it to goTound and 
 round like a teetotum. 
 
 " Knocked him silly," he continued ; 
 " that's one to me." 
 
 The female swan, maddened at the 
 contemplated outrage on her nest, and 
 perhaps irritated at the eccentric con- 
 duct of her husband, who continued to 
 spin around in circles as if he was not 
 in the full possession of his right senses, 
 again attacked. 
 
 This time it was Bragg who incurred 
 her resentment. 
 
 He, however, still retained possession 
 of the stick, with which he had overcome 
 the male bird, and struck desperately 
 at the swan until she too succumbed. 
 
 When they were both down, he hit 
 them again. 
 
UG 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON J 
 
 Jack. 
 
 'Don't kill the poor brutes," exclaimed 
 
 " If I dou't tbey will kill us," replied 
 Bill. 
 
 This argument was difficult to refute, 
 and Jack allowed Bragg to keep oflf the 
 swans while he took the eggs. 
 
 " To the boat ! " be cried. " Here, 
 Owen ; take one." 
 
 Owen Tudor tried to lift his right 
 arm, but could not. 
 
 " Why, wliat is the matter with your 
 arm ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " I'll be hanged if I know," answered 
 Owen. " It hurts me, and I can't lift 
 it. Is it broken, do j'ou think ? " 
 
 " I hojie not." 
 
 Suddenly the deep baying of a dog 
 «as heard, and a man's voice said — 
 
 " Hi ! after them lad — loo ! loo ! " 
 
 A big dog of the mastiflf breed burst 
 through the underbrush, and baring his 
 fangs, barked at the boys. 
 
 Almost at the same moment a man, 
 wearing the dress of a Thames water- 
 niaii, appeared upon the scene. 
 
 " I heard you," he exclaimed. Stealin' 
 swans' eggs, are you ? I'll learn you." 
 
 As he spoke he seized Owen by the 
 cdUar roughly. 
 
 " Don't hurt me, please," said Owen. 
 " I fear my arm is broken." 
 
 " iServe you right, too, you young 
 vagabond." 
 
 At this remark Jack walked up to him 
 with clenched fists and flashing eyes. 
 
 " I'm a boy, and you're a man," he 
 said, "but I want you to understand 
 that we are Eton boys, and if you insult 
 us you will get your head punched, big 
 and ugly as you are." 
 
 The waterman did not relinquish his 
 hold of Owen. 
 
 " You've got them three swans' eggs 
 in your pockets," he replied. " You've 
 knocked the birds about until they are 
 half dead, and " 
 
 " In self-defence," put in Jack. 
 
 "Pack o' nonsense. The swans wouldn't 
 have hurt you if you had left them alone. 
 These swans are private property; they 
 belong to the City of London, and the 
 penalty for killing them or stealing eggs 
 is imprisonment. You will, all three of 
 you, have to come along of me to "Wind- 
 sor, where I'll lock you up." 
 
 At this declaration the boys looked 
 vory uneasy. 
 
 "Put the eggs back again in f.he 
 nest," said Bragg, 
 
 Jack immediately did so, and the 
 female swan at once crawled to the nest, 
 hurt as she was, and covered them. 
 
 The male continued to stand on one 
 leg, spin round now and again, and blink 
 out of his eyes, as if he was not quite 
 easy in his mind. 
 
 " That wont help you," exclaimed 
 the waterman. " I've got to do my 
 duty." 
 
 ""\\'Tiat's that ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " To lock you up." 
 
 " Can't we come to some arrange- 
 ment ? " 
 
 "Nj,"said the man decisively; "we've 
 lost lots of eggs lately, and we must 
 make an example. I b'lieve you Eton 
 gentlemen are playing the mischief with 
 the swans. .\11 the nests from here to 
 Monkey Island have been interfered 
 with. I've got my punt close handy, and 
 if you don't come quiet I'll have to use 
 violence." 
 
 Bill Bragg began to bluster. 
 
 " I've never seen the waterside man 
 yet I couldn't buy with a sovereign. 
 Give him some money. Jack ; that will 
 satisfy him. Slap-bang, and all alive ! " 
 he exclaimed. 
 
 Jack tendered him some money. 
 
 " Get a drink," he said, " and call it 
 square." 
 
 "Thank you," replied the waterman; 
 " I don't drink. I am a teetotaller, and 
 thanks to that I'm well oil' and above 
 taking bribes. You will either come 
 quietly to the police-station, or I shall 
 have to make you." 
 
 There was no help for it. 
 
 Jack knew that Bragg would not fight, 
 Owen had a bad arm and could not, while 
 he could not tackle a big man all by 
 himself. 
 
 " All right," he said ; " I will go with 
 you. I take the whole responsibility on 
 myself. You found the eggs on me. 
 That's enough." 
 
 At this self-sacrifice Owen felt un- 
 happy. 
 
 " If you go, Jack," he exclaimed, " I 
 will go too." 
 
 " Not a bit of it," Jack replied gaily. 
 " My shoulders are broad enough. Go 
 home and have your arm seen to." 
 
 " But I am your chum." 
 
 "All the more reason, dear old boy, 
 
OH, TUE ADVENTUUES OF TWO COLLEGE CDUMS. 
 
 why you should let me see this thing 
 out." 
 
 " Jack's right," remarked Bragg. " We 
 will go and see about bail for him. Come 
 on, Tudor. I"ll scull you back to the 
 raft. Slap-bang, and all alive." 
 
 Owen allowed himself to be persuaded, 
 and Jack was marched off in custody by 
 the waterman, who punted him down to 
 Windsor. 
 
 They went together to the Town Hall, 
 where they saw yuperintendent Simpson, 
 who shook hands cordially with Jack. 
 
 " In trouble again, Mr. Dashley ? " he 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " It looks Uke it. Seems that we are 
 destined to meet," replied Jack, 
 
 " Not been running away, I hope ? " 
 
 " Oh, dear, no. This man has brought 
 me here ; he will tell you all about it." 
 
 The waterman hereupon began to 
 make his complaint, stating how the 
 swans had been disturbed, 
 
 " According to your own showing the 
 birds are all right now," exclaimed Simp- 
 son. " I shall not take the charge. If 
 you want to go on with the matter, you 
 can proceed by way of summons." 
 
 The waterman looked deeply dis- 
 appointed. 
 
 " Aren't you going to lock him up ? " 
 he said. 
 
 " Certainly not. Good morning. Step 
 into my private room, Mr. Dashley, if 
 you please," replied the ofBc^r. 
 
 Jack did so, and sat down, not at all 
 sorry to have got out of this new scrape 
 so easily. 
 
 " I used to know a little Latin once," 
 said Simpson, " ' Omnis ah ovo ' — 
 everything comes from the egg. Ycu 
 know pheasants' eggs caused you to run 
 away ; swans' eggs nearly got you locked 
 up. Better leave them alone in future." 
 
 " You're right," answered Jack laugh- 
 ing. 
 
 " Have you heard anything more of 
 Timor and the gipsies ? " inquired 
 
 No ; have you ? " 
 " I cannot find any tiace of them, so 
 I suppose they must have left the coun- 
 try, but what is singular is, that I have 
 received a communication from head- 
 quarters in London to the effect that 
 large quantities of forged Eussian rouble 
 notes are in circulation, and there is 
 reason to believe that they are being 
 
 made in the neighbomhood of Wind- 
 sor." 
 
 " Indeed ! " 
 
 Jack thought of the lonely house in 
 Datchet where he fancied he had seen 
 the face of Timor, but he did not say 
 anything. 
 
 He contented himself with hoping 
 that Simpson would succeed in finding 
 out the criminals, and after partaking of 
 a glass of sherry and a biscuit, which 
 was generously offered him, he returned 
 to college. 
 
 When he reached his room, he was 
 met by Owen and Bragg, who were 
 anxious to know how he had got on. 
 
 They were surprised and delighted at 
 his good luck. 
 
 " Old B. and S. has been here while 
 you were out," remarked Owen. 
 
 " What did he want ? " inquired Jack. 
 
 " Quicksilver has run away, and he 
 doesn't know where to find him. I 
 thought he would not stay." 
 
 "Poor little beggar," said Jack. 
 " What will become of him, I wonder ? " 
 
 Scarcely had he uttered these words 
 than an organ-grinder stopped outside 
 the window and began to play. 
 
 " Oh, hang that fellow ! " cried Owen. 
 " I'll give him a penny to move on." 
 
 " ^^^ait a bit," Jack replied. " He's 
 got a monkey. Quite a big one, 
 too." 
 
 It was true ; a large monkey secm-ed 
 to the organ by a long chain, the other 
 end of which was tied round his waist, 
 stood in the street, grinning, and holding 
 up his paw for money. 
 
 Presently it began to dance, cut 
 capers, and go head over heels, stand on 
 its head, and perform other tricks. 
 
 " He is a proper monkey," remarked 
 Bragg. " Slap-bang and all alive. Give 
 me sixpence to shy at him, one of you 
 fellows." 
 
 " Get your own sixpence," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 " Never mind, I've got a penny, I'll 
 make it red-hot and chuck it out." 
 
 Taking a penny from his pocket, he 
 held it in the fire by means of the tongs 
 until it was very hot. 
 
 Wrapping it in a piece of brown paper, 
 he threw it out of the window into the 
 road. 
 
 The monkey picked it up, opened it, 
 and liad no sooner felt it than he dropped 
 
TUE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 it again quicker than Ughtning, uttering 
 a loud cry the while. 
 
 Next moment he sprang on the vrall, 
 and began to cUmb up the lightning-rod 
 vrith considerable agility. 
 
 " Can't the beggar climb ? " cried 
 Bragg. 
 
 The monkey reached the window-sill 
 and jumped into the room, making a 
 grab at Bragg's hair, of which he pulled 
 out a large handful. 
 
 " Oh, heaven ! " continued Bragg, 
 "he'll make me bald. Pull him off. 
 Confound the beast." 
 
 " You shouldn't have aggravated him," 
 replied Jack, " and it serves you right." 
 
 Not satisfied with thinning his tor- 
 mentor's hair, the monkey went on to 
 hit him in the face and kick him on 
 the shins until he bellowed loudly for 
 mercy. 
 
 "Leave off; I'll never do it again," 
 cried Bragg ; " never — so help me bob. 
 Slap-bang and all alive ! " 
 
 " I'll take jolly good care you don't," 
 replied the monkey, loudly. 
 
 At this the boys were greatly as- 
 tonished, for they had never heard a 
 monkey talk before, and they thought 
 he must be the missing link between 
 the ape tribe and humanity. 
 
 The monkey gave Bill Bragg another 
 cuff on the ear, and Bill seized him by 
 the tail, which, to his sui-prise, came off 
 in his hands. 
 
 " Why, lads," he exclaimed, " what's 
 this ? Hang me if I haven't pulled out 
 the beast's narrative." 
 
 The monkey sat down in a chair and 
 burst out laughing. 
 
 " Don't you know me, Jack of Eton ?" 
 he said. 
 
 " Why, it's — yes, it must be Quick- 
 silver," replied Jack. "What's the 
 meaning of this caper ? " 
 
 " I had to leave Soda's. Couldn't 
 stand the old woman. I met the organ- 
 grinder and got talking to him. He 
 wanted a monkey, offered to dress me 
 up, and here I am." 
 
 " So you thought you would visit me." 
 
 " Couldn't keep away from you. I get 
 good pay, and in a week or two I shall 
 come here and take a lodging in Eton, 
 so we won't be far apart," Quicksilver 
 replied. 
 
 " Are you doing well ? " 
 
 " First class. It's Ascot races next 
 week, and we expect to win money. 
 Good-bye; my Italian's pulling the 
 chain. That's a signal that I've been 
 up long enough." 
 
 " By-bye ; take care of yourself." 
 
 " Don't you fret ; it's a cold day when 
 I'm left. Mr. Bragg, I'll thank you for 
 my tail." 
 
 Bill handed him the caudal appen- 
 dage of which he had deprived him, and 
 Quicksilver went away as he had come. 
 
 " What a rum chap he is," observed 
 Owen. 
 
 " He is indeed, but I like his pluck. 
 It shows that there are more ways than 
 one of getting a living." 
 
 "That's as true as that I am slap- 
 bang and all alive ! " cried Bragg. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Nothing was seen of Quicksilver for 
 some time. 
 
 Ascot races were approaching, and 
 Jack had made up his mind to go to 
 them, when an event occurred which he 
 had not taken into his calculations. 
 
 There had been a great deal of rain, 
 and Jack had been wetted to the skin, 
 afterwards sitting in his damp clothes. 
 
 That this gave him cold there is no 
 doubt, but he felt very ill also, not being 
 able to account for a dizzy feeling in 
 the head, a difficulty in seeing objects 
 
 distinctly, and a weakness of the 
 knees. 
 
 One afternoon he was coming out of 
 school, when he staggered and fell 
 against the wall. 
 
 "Hold up, old man. What's the 
 matter ? " asked Owen. 
 
 " I really don't know," Jack replied. 
 " The fact is I can't stand. Let me lean 
 upon you." 
 
 " With pleasure, dear boy." 
 
 Owen assisted him home, and Jack 
 laid down on the bed. 
 
OB, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHOMa. 
 
 110 
 
 " I'm very ill, Owen. Go and tell 
 my tutor. I want to see the doctor," 
 exclaimed Jack. 
 
 The doctor was sent for, and by the 
 time he arrived Jack was in a raging 
 fever ; his skin had turned fiery red, his 
 mind was wandering, and he was laugh- 
 ing and talldng nonsense to himself. 
 
 When the doctor had examined him, 
 Mr. Dryasdust, who was standing by the 
 bedside, inquired anxiously what the 
 matter was. 
 
 " Scarlet fever," answered the doctor. 
 
 " Good heaven ! " 
 
 *' Bad case, too. It's very virulent in 
 the town. I hoped it would keep out of 
 the school. We must have him removed 
 to the Sanatorium at once. Have the 
 ambulance sent for, please, and keep 
 everyone out of the room. I will wait 
 here until he is removed." 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust went away to execute 
 this order himself. 
 
 He met Owen Tudor outside the room. 
 
 " Please, sir, what is the matter with 
 Dashley ? " he asked. 
 
 " Scarlet fever," was the reply. 
 
 " May I go in and wait on him, sir? 
 He knows me, and perhaps I " 
 
 " He doesn't know anj'one, for he is 
 unconscious." 
 
 " Is he so bad as that ? " 
 
 " Yes. He will go to the Sanatorium 
 soon. Please tell the boys to keep 
 away from the room, for fear of infec- 
 tion." 
 
 Saying this Mr. Dryasdust hurried 
 away. 
 
 He was exceedingly anxious to get 
 Jack out of the house for fear of the 
 other boys catching the disease. 
 
 Two hours elapsed, and at the expira- 
 tion of that time the ambulance arrived. 
 
 Jack was wrapped in a blanket and 
 carried downstairs. 
 
 They placed him in the carriage like 
 a little child. 
 
 He was quiet now, for they had given 
 him a sedative. 
 
 No one was allowed to see him go 
 away, and he was taken ofif like one 
 plague-stricken. 
 
 Three days elapsed, and fortunately 
 there was no other case in the house. 
 
 Oven was inconsolable at the loss of 
 
 his friend, experiencing terrible suspense 
 at not hearing anything of him. 
 
 At last he could bear it no longer, bui 
 sought out his tutor. 
 
 " Well, my little man," said Mr. Dry- 
 asdust, " what can I do for you ? " 
 
 " How is Dashley, sir ? " asknd Owen» 
 " I am very anxious about him." 
 
 Mr. Dryasdu.st shook his head. 
 
 " Very bad, indeed," he repUed. " I 
 am sorry to say I have no good news to 
 give you. His father came down from 
 town to-day, and has gone to see him. 
 We expect his mother to-morrow." 
 
 " Is he in danger of— of dying, sir ? " 
 said Owen, whose eyes were filled with 
 tears, 
 
 " I will not say that. Let us trust in 
 the overflowing goodness of God. While 
 there is life there is hope." 
 
 "Oh, sir," cried Owen, putting his 
 hands together in a supplicating way, 
 " do please let me wait on him. I am 
 his chum, and it will do him good to see 
 nie." 
 
 " Impossible ; quite impossible." 
 
 ""^Vhy, sir?" 
 
 "You might catch the disease, and 
 your parents would never forgive me 
 for exposing you to such a danger." 
 
 " I don't care for that. I'll run every 
 risk to be with my chum." 
 
 " The sentiment does honour to your 
 heart, my dear boy, but I really cannot 
 consent," repUed IMr . Dry asdust. " Don't 
 press me any more. Run away and 
 play." 
 
 " There is no play in me, or work 
 either," replied Owen. 
 
 "Cheer up. We will hope for the 
 best. I will let you know how he is to- 
 morrow," said his tutor. 
 
 Poor Owen went to his room, more 
 than half broken-hearted. 
 
 "I must go to him," he muttered; 
 " if I die for it, I will nurse him." 
 
 The rest of the evening he was puzzled 
 in thinking how he could get to the 
 Sanatorium. 
 
 If he once got in, he thought they 
 would have to let him stay there, for 
 they could not send him back to college, 
 as he would be infected. 
 
 He was determined that, be the result 
 what it might, he would go. 
 
120 
 
 THE SCQOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETO^l J 
 
 CHAPTER XXVL 
 
 TfTE next day, in pursuance of his heroic 
 resolution, Owen Tudor, after twelve, 
 put his books in his room and prepared 
 for a visit to the Sanatorium. 
 
 What the consequences of his visit to 
 his sick friend Jack Dashley might be, 
 he did not stop to consider, though it 
 flashed across his mind that he too might 
 catch the fever and have to toss about 
 restlessly on a bed of illness, from which 
 it was possible he might never rise. 
 
 Yet it was his duty, and he could not 
 stay away. 
 
 Owen was born of a courageous race. 
 
 The blood of the old Welsh kings 
 flowed in his veins. 
 
 He had a pedigree a mile long nearly, 
 and the Tudors were proud of saying 
 they did not know what fear was. 
 
 Bill Bragg met him in the passage and 
 wanted to know where he was going 
 to. 
 
 "I'm inclined for a stroll in the 
 country," replied Owen, evasively. " I've 
 been working hard lately, and a walk 
 will do me good." 
 
 "Come up the river with me and 
 bathe," said Bragg. 
 
 " Not to-day." 
 
 "All right, please yourself. Slap- 
 bang and all alive." 
 
 " If I'm not back at dinner-time tell 
 my tutor that he knows where I am." 
 
 " That's rather a curious message to 
 give anybody, but I'll do it. "Stroll 
 on," replied Bragg. 
 
 Owen quickly left the college ard 
 struck across the fields in the direction 
 of the Sanatorium or college hospital, 
 which was situated about two miles from 
 Eton, in a healthy situation and com- 
 pletely isolated from all other buildings. 
 
 It was very warm, so he halted under 
 a horse-chestnut tree to rest. 
 
 Scarcely had he seated himself than a 
 chestnut hit him on the hat. 
 
 Looking up, another struck him on 
 the nose. 
 
 " Confound it ! " he cried. " I didn't 
 know the nuts were ripe enough to fall 
 yet." 
 
 He spoke these words aloud, and they 
 
 were answered by a loud laugh which 
 came from among the branches. 
 
 " Halloa ! " he continued. " This is 
 like the story of the yellow dwarf. 
 I^Iurder, who is up the tree? Come 
 down, whoever you are, or 111 shy stones 
 up." 
 
 The leaves fluttered, the branches 
 creaked, and down came Quicksilver. 
 
 " Well, I never," said Owen. " Is it 
 you, Quicksilver? 'SVhat's bfecome of 
 the Italian and the organ ? " 
 
 " I ain't a monkey no more," replied 
 Quicksilver. " My employer and I had 
 a row about money. He didn't divide 
 the profits fairly, so I grabbed all I could 
 and took my hook this morning. I was 
 coming to the school to see Jack of Eton, 
 but as I had not had a climb lately I 
 took a turn up this tree." 
 
 " You won't find Jack in the old 
 place," said Owen, sadly. 
 
 At this announcement Quicksilver's 
 face became clouded, for he anticipated 
 evil at once. 
 
 " Has anything happened to him ? " 
 he demanded, eagerly. 
 
 " He has got the fever and is in the 
 college hospital. I am going to see him 
 now, for they say he is very bad and 
 likely to die." 
 
 " I will go too," exclaimed the boy. 
 
 " No," replied Owen, who was more 
 careful of others than he was of himself, 
 " you must not do that." 
 
 " Why not ? " 
 
 " Because you might catch the fever. 
 It is not safe." 
 
 "Well," said Quicksilver, scratching 
 his head with a piizzled air, "I can't 
 understand that, if you can go why can't 
 I?" 
 
 " I am his chum. It is my duty, and 
 I would run every risk to be of service 
 to him," replied Owen. 
 
 Again the puzzled air came over 
 Quicksilver's face. 
 
 " I know I'm only a poor boy and 
 haven't got any edication to speak of, 
 while you are a college gentleman, but 
 my heart is as big as yours, and you 
 can't love him more than I do. You've 
 
OH, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 told me wliPie he is and you can't keep 
 me away. N<>, not a hundred college 
 gentlemen could. I'm going — that's 
 flat." 
 
 He spoke in a tone of determination 
 which there was no gainsaying, and see- 
 ing he was thoroughly in earnest, Owen 
 ceased to make any opposition. 
 
 " Have it your own way," he exclaimed. 
 " I have warned you of the risk you run 
 and I can say no more." 
 
 " May I come with you ? " asked 
 Quicksilver, whose face lighted up with 
 a smile. 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 They continued the journey side by 
 side until the })lain brick built walls of 
 the melancholy-looking building rose 
 into view. 
 
 " That's the place," remarked Owen, 
 
 " Many in there," queried the boy. 
 
 " Jack is the only one, as far as I can 
 learn ; so there will be lots of room for 
 us," Owen said, with a gloomy forebod- 
 ing. 
 
 They entered the grounds and inquired 
 at the gate for Dashley. 
 
 The porter informed them that he 
 was in number one room on the right 
 hand side of the long passage on the 
 ground floor. 
 
 " But," he added, " I don't think the 
 house doctor will allow you to see him. 
 His mother is with him, though he don't 
 know nobody. You sit down on this 
 bench while I go and call the doctor." 
 
 Saying this, the porter went away on 
 his self-imposed errand, leaving the boys 
 by themselves. 
 
 "Didn't he say number one on the 
 right hand side of the long corridor ? " 
 asked Quicksilver. 
 
 " Yes, that's the direction," answered 
 Owen. 
 
 " Then I'm going straight there. It 
 ain't no good waitin' for that bloke to 
 come back. He don't mean lettin' of us 
 in. I can see that ! " 
 
 " Indeed I think you are right. Come 
 on." 
 
 Not staying for the retm-n of the 
 porter, the two devoted friends of the 
 sick boy made their way at once to the 
 ajwrtment indicated, and, opening the 
 door, let themselves in. 
 
 It was a small room, with plain white- 
 washed walls, only relieved by a few 
 illuminated script mr- i.exts. 
 
 The blind being down kept the sun 
 out and darkened the room, yet there 
 was sufficient light left to enable the 
 boys to see a lady sitting between the 
 bed and the table. 
 
 On the bed was the form of Jack 
 Dashley, the face red and flushed, and 
 eyes burning brightly with the fire of 
 delirium. 
 
 He tossed restlessly from side to side, 
 and his cracked, parched lij^s showed 
 how the fever was devouring him. 
 
 The plain deal table was covered with 
 bottles. 
 
 Mrs. Dashley — for it was she — had 
 for the last twenty-four hours been in 
 attendance upon him, her husband 
 coming down every evening when busi- 
 ness was over, returning to town the 
 same night. 
 
 She was a tall, handsome woman, 
 plainly dressed in black silk. 
 
 Her expressive face was clouded with 
 care and stained with tears. 
 
 "' I beg your pardon, ma'am," said 
 Owen, " we do not wish to intrude." 
 
 " Who are you ? " she asked. 
 
 " Friends of Jack's." 
 
 " What do you want ? " 
 
 " To nurse him," said Owen. 
 
 "I am his mother," she exclaimed, 
 " and I fear you can do him no good. 
 This is the crisis of his illness. If he 
 sleeps all will be well, but his system 
 cannot bear the delirium much longer. 
 The pulse is 120." 
 
 Jack moved restlessly and threw up 
 his arms. 
 
 " Hush ! " she continued, raising her 
 finger. 
 
 " Well caught ! " cried Jack. " Another 
 wicket down ! Oh, well bowled over ! 
 Two wickets in one over ! We shall 
 win the match yet! How's that, 
 umpire ? " 
 
 He fancied he was in the field playing 
 cricket. 
 
 Then his mood changed, and his face 
 assumed a stem expression. 
 
 " I tell you all ! " he exclaimed. " That 
 Timor is a villain. He is forging Russian 
 notes with his uncle and Bill Silver. 
 Where's Quicksey ? " 
 
 " Here I am," replied the boy. 
 
 " Gro away. You are not my Quicksey ! 
 You're a monkey ! " 
 
 " I ain't playing monkey no more, 
 Master Jack. I've cut that." 
 
122 
 
 THE SCnOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON | 
 
 "Away, away! I know you. You're Bill 
 Bragg. Halloa, Billy ! Slap-bang and 
 all alive, eh? Ha, ha, here's a lark! 
 Look at old Mother Soda licking S. and 
 B. She'll beat him more for that than 
 anything. What are the words of the 
 poet? Ha, ha, ha! won't we have a 
 jolly spree ! " 
 
 Then he fell back exhausted. 
 
 At this instant the doctor entered, 
 and looking angrily at the boys, beckoned 
 them outside. 
 
 " Who are you ? " he demanded. 
 
 " Owen Tudor, boarding at Mr. Dry- 
 asdust's, and come to nurse my friend." 
 
 " And you ? " — this to Quicksilver. 
 
 " I'm only a poor boy, but I love Jack 
 of Eton." 
 
 "I should have thought you would 
 know better than to come here," con- 
 tinued the doctor. " It's ten to one you 
 catch the fever. Does Mr. Dryasdust 
 know you are here ? " 
 
 "No, sir. He refused to let me 
 come." 
 
 " You deserve to be soundly flogged 
 for disobedience to orders. As you have 
 been in the sick room I cannot send you 
 back to the college. You will have to 
 stay here for a few days until I see 
 whether you get sick ; if not, I'll dis- 
 infect you and send you home to your 
 friends. As for this tramp " 
 
 " I ain't no tramp," cried Quicksilver. 
 
 " You look like one, anyhow. Out 
 you go." 
 
 The doctor grasped him by the arms 
 and ran him along the passage. 
 
 " Cheese it, governor. I ain't done 
 nothing," protested the boy. 
 
 But the doctor would not listen to 
 him. 
 
 He put him outside the front door 
 and shut it in his face. 
 
 Quicksilver shook himself and looked 
 indignant. 
 
 " That's caiTying things with a high 
 hand," he remarked. " I'm bounced, 
 but I'll get the best of him yet." 
 
 Quicksilver walked round the build- 
 ing till he came to the window of the 
 room in which Jack was lying, and 
 climbing up the cornice, got astride a 
 projecting ledge, which enabled him to 
 look in at a corner of the window which 
 the blind did not cover. 
 
 There he could see Jack, notice all 
 that went on in the room, and hear 
 
 ever^'thing that was said. The doctor 
 was certainly outwitted to a certain 
 extent. 
 
 Owen Tudor found that he had not 
 improved his position much by coming 
 to the Sanatorium, for the doctor would 
 on no account allow him to enter the 
 sick room again. 
 
 He was given an apartment to sleep 
 in, and told that he might talk to the 
 porter, and would have to take his meals 
 with the matron. His only privilege 
 was to waylay the doctor when he left 
 Jack's room and receive the latest news. 
 
 The hours passed slowly enough. 
 
 It was gro\ving dark. 
 
 He had had his tea, and was trying to 
 read a book in the porter's room, but he 
 could not fix his attention. 
 
 The lines ran into one another, and 
 there was a mist before his eyes. 
 
 Suddenly he heard the doctor's step. 
 
 Throwing down the book, he went 
 after him, and waited until he came out 
 from visiting the patient. 
 
 There was a look of anxiety upon the 
 physician's face. 
 
 " Well, sir ? " ejaculated Owen ner- 
 vously. 
 
 " It is not well. I fear we must make 
 up our minds for the worst," replied the 
 doctor. 
 
 " Oh, sir, don't say that." 
 
 " He is sinking fast." 
 
 The tears began to stream down Owen's 
 face, and he sobbed aloud. 
 
 " Don't say he will die, sir," he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " God's will must be done, my dear 
 boy. There is one inside there who 
 loves him more than you, and her lot is 
 hard to bear." 
 
 " Not more, sir." 
 
 " Bear up, or you will make yourself 
 ill. All I can say is, that if a change 
 does not take place before midnight it 
 will be all over ere morning dawns. You 
 had best go to bed." 
 
 " Oh, no, let me stay up. I can't 
 sleep ; indeed — indeed I can't," pleaded 
 Owen. 
 
 " Very well. Go into the porter's 
 room." 
 
 Owen went back very miserable. 
 
 Quicksilver had not quitted his post. 
 
 He did not care to eat and drink. 
 
 All he wanted was to listen to every 
 word that was said. 
 
OR, XnE ADVENTURES OF TWO OOLLEOB CHDM8. 
 
 123 
 
 Faithfully he watched on through the 
 stilly night. 
 
 At eight o'clock Mr. Dashley arrived, 
 bringing with him two of the most 
 famous physicians in London. 
 
 They had a consultation with the 
 resident doctor, and remained in the 
 sick room until midnight, when Jack 
 fell into a deep slumber. 
 
 So still was he that it seemed that he 
 had fallen into the last long sleep, for 
 his respirations were so feeble you could 
 only tell that he breathed by putting a 
 little piece of swans-down on his lips. 
 
 When the doctors retired, Mr. Dash- 
 ley in vain tried to persuade his wife 
 to tike some rest. She stedfastly refused 
 to quit her post. 
 
 Owen had to go to bed, but he got up 
 when all was quiet and listened outside 
 the door. 
 
 All was still as death. 
 
 Not a sound was to be heard. 
 
 So intense was the quietude that you 
 might have heard a pin drop. 
 
 All at once he heard a woman's voice 
 lifted up in prayer. 
 
 " Lord, have mercy on this Thy ser- 
 vant, who is lying sick unto death. If 
 it seemeth good unto Thee, spare his 
 life, that he grow up to do honour to 
 Thy name." 
 
 It was Airs. Dashley praying for her 
 son. 
 
 Owen fell on his knees on the cold 
 stones of the corridor, and joined in the 
 supplication with clasped hands. 
 
 " Thou hast given, Lord, and it is 
 Thy privilege to take away ; but for the 
 sweet sake of Him who died upon the 
 cross to save sinners, I beseech Thee to 
 listen to the prayer of a heart-broken 
 mother. Give to me my boy. Spare 
 him, good Lord, spare him. Suffer him 
 to live, for he is my stay and my hope." 
 
 Choking sobs were audible. 
 
 Strong man as Mr. Dashley was, he 
 could not go through this solemn scene 
 unmoved. 
 
 " Amen," said he, in a faltering voice. 
 
 Then all was silent once more. 
 
 Owen crept back to bed, wondering if 
 the prayers of the poor mother would be 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 OWEN MAKES HIMSELF USEFUL AQAIN. 
 
 The long night passed, and the crisis 
 was over. 
 
 Jack Dashley was to hve. 
 
 The doctors said that he had had a 
 narrow escape, and that it would be weeks 
 before he was strong and well again. 
 
 But every day he would make progress 
 towards convalescence. 
 
 On the third day Owen was taken sick, 
 and had to go to bed. 
 
 He had caught the fever. 
 
 But the attack was slight, and by the 
 time Jack was able to get up, he too was 
 on his legs. 
 
 Quicksilver had gone back to Mr. 
 Soda's when he heard that Jack was 
 all right, and he often called to inquire 
 about his friend. 
 
 When the boys were well enough to 
 be moved they were sent down to 
 Brighton, in the hope that the sea air 
 would strengthen and invigorate them. 
 
 They almost regretted leaving the 
 Sanatorium, for whale they were getting 
 
 well everybody had been so kind to 
 them. 
 
 All sorts of nice books were given to 
 them to read, the best hot-house grapes, 
 peaches, and pine-apples were constantly 
 on the table, and best of all, they 
 had been allowed to share the same 
 room. 
 
 Jack was very grateful to Owen for the 
 decided proof he had given him of his 
 friendship, and told him he should never 
 forget it if he lived to the age of 
 Methuselah. 
 
 They did not return to Eton until the 
 beginning of football half, when all the 
 boys were glad to see them, and Owen 
 was looked upon as quite a hero. 
 
 Boys are always ready to appreciate 
 noble and generous actions. 
 
 Work went on as usual. 
 
 Timor was almost forgotten, until 
 some one brought a report that the 
 gipsies had been seen once more in 
 Windsor Park. 
 
124 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACli AT ETON | 
 
 •' Who saw them ? " inquired Jack, when 
 Owen told him. 
 
 " Funnybird Minor told me," replied 
 Owen, " and I think Bragg was the man 
 he got the report from." 
 
 To Bragg's room they went, finding 
 that young gentleman busily engaged in 
 making experiments with the contents 
 of a chemical chest. 
 
 " Keep out of the way ! " said Bragg. 
 "I'm making thunder and lightning. 
 Let's see, which comes first ? " 
 
 " Lightning, of course." 
 
 " So it does. Slap-bang and all alive. 
 Look out ! " 
 
 He blew some lycopodium through a 
 hollow glass into the flame of the candle, 
 when it ignited with a flash. 
 
 Then he struck some detonating 
 powder with the poker, and made his 
 thunder. 
 
 " Easiest thing in the world, my dear 
 boys, when you know how it's done," he 
 exclaimed. " What shall I do next ? " 
 
 " Tell us about the gipsies." 
 
 " Oh, that's what you're after." 
 
 " Yes," replied Jack. 
 
 " Well, I was taking a stroll in the 
 park to-day. It looked awfully gloomy. 
 All the leaves are falling off the trees, 
 and there was a frost this morning, which 
 did not improve things. I got near 
 Gunstock's lodge." 
 
 " By the way, how is he ? " interrupted 
 Jack. 
 
 " Eight as rain. His wound is quite 
 well, but he is to the full as bitter against 
 the gipsies as ever he was." 
 
 " I don't wonder at it." 
 
 "Nor anybody else," Jack remarked. 
 " They treated him badly enough. Go 
 on." 
 
 " His daughter gave me some bread 
 and jam, and a bottle of lemonade. Spiff! 
 Nice girl, that daughter. Slap-bang and 
 all alive." 
 
 " Not so nice as EfBe." 
 
 " Oh, wait till I tell you. She's heard 
 about your Effie, and doesn't like it. 
 She's dead spoons on you, Jack." 
 
 " Is she? I'm sorry for it, because it's 
 all the good it will do her. The only 
 girl I love in the world is Eflie." 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " laughed Bill Bragg. 
 "Fancy falling in love with a Uttle 
 gipsy." 
 
 " Stop that ! " cried Jack angrily, " or 
 I'll lick you." 
 
 " What for ? " 
 
 "Effie's a little queen. She's the 
 daughter of a gentleman, and was stolen 
 when she was young." 
 
 "Stolen when a kid? Quite a romance. 
 Now look here, Jack Dashley, don't you 
 go to hit me. You will be a beastly cad 
 if you hit a man in his own room, and 
 besides that, I won't tell you about the 
 gipsies." 
 
 Jack had to laugh at this, he couldn't 
 help it. 
 
 " Go on with your story, and don't slang 
 Effie," he replied. 
 
 " Well, as I was saying, I had a good 
 
 feed, and " 
 
 Just then a boy with a bullet head, 
 surmounted with any quantity of red 
 hair, entered the room. 
 
 He was a stupid-looking boy, but very 
 stoutly built. 
 
 " Excuse me," he said, " but I'm a new 
 boy." 
 
 " Oh, you are, eh ? What's your name 
 — Carro.ts ? " asked Bragg. 
 " No, it ain't Carrots, either." 
 " Perhaps it's William Rufus," 
 " You're out again. My name's Hardy." 
 " Is it ? Much obliged for the infor- 
 mation, but I shall call you CaiTots, or 
 Rufus, or both, just as I think fit." 
 
 " Oh, you can chaff me as much as you 
 like about my red hair. I call it a nobby 
 head of hair." 
 
 " Do you ? Keep away from my chemi- 
 cal chest, please ; you might set some- 
 thing on fire with your hair, and I don't 
 want to be blown up yet awhile." 
 
 " You're too clever," said Hardy. " Is 
 this the way you always treat new 
 fellows ? " 
 
 " Oh, dear, no. We treat them up to 
 the knocker. Slap-bang and all alive, 
 don't you make any error. I'll show you 
 presently." 
 
 Bill winked at Jack and Owen. 
 " I've only just landed here, and want 
 to know where I live," continued Hardy. 
 " What do you mean ?" 
 " Where's my room ? " 
 " Well, I like your cheek, blow me if 
 I don't," answered Bragg. " I'm not 
 your servant. You've got a nerve." 
 
 " Show me to my room. I'U give you 
 
 a shilling, and as I have a hamper full of 
 
 good things, you can have a slice of ham 
 
 I for tea, or the wing of a chicken, or a 
 
 cut of spiced boar's head." 
 
OH, TIIE ADVENTUiUiS OK TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 " Want to know the way to your room, 
 eh ? AN'ell, I don't mind showing you, 
 thougli that is the boys' maid's business, 
 and I'm nobody's nigger. However, I'll 
 show you." 
 
 Bragg opened bis door again. 
 
 "Go ahead," he continued. "Step 
 out, Carrots." 
 
 The new boy with the awfully red hair 
 did as be was told, and as he reached the 
 threshold he was lilted into the air bodily 
 by a kick from Bill. 
 
 " Go straight on and you'll come to it, 
 my tulip," cried Bill. 
 
 Hardy picked himself up and looked 
 angrily at his aggressor. 
 
 " What did you do that for ? " be 
 asked. 
 
 " I showed you the way ; that is all," 
 was the cool reply. 
 
 Hardy, without saying another word, 
 struck out and sent Bragg spinning 
 backwards up against his chemical chest, 
 which fell on the floor, its contents being 
 all over the room; then he cannoned up 
 against Jack, who pushed him against 
 Owen, saying — 
 
 " No child of mine." 
 
 Satisfied with the revenge be had 
 taken, Hardy walked away. 
 
 " Propped me in the eye, by Jove ! " 
 cried Bragg. " 'V^1lo'd have thought it? 
 I never did like red-headed fellows. I 
 shot a fellow for doing less than that 
 once." 
 
 "I think you brought it on yourself," 
 said Jack, who had to laugh. 
 
 " I'll be a mark on that Rufus," con- 
 tinued Bragg. " Confound him ! I wish 
 I could get a piece of raw beef-steak to 
 put on my peeper. It will go into 
 mom-ning ; that's a moral." 
 
 " Why don't you take it out of 
 him?" 
 
 "Well," said Bragg, slowly and de- 
 liberately, " he's a new fellow, you see, 
 and I don't like to be hard on him. 
 Wait a bit; let him slip. I'll go on 
 with my story." 
 
 " Tiiat's what I want," replied Jack, 
 who was much interested about the 
 gipsies. 
 
 " Gunstock says that he has seen the 
 gipsies in the old park, but neither Ivan, 
 Timor, or Bill Silver is with them, nor 
 has he seen anything of Effie, though — " 
 
 He paused abruptly, for the door 
 opened and in came the red head. 
 
 " I say, old fellow, how's your eye ? " 
 asked Hardy. 
 
 " Here's the sky-singer," ciiod Jack. 
 
 Bill Bragg retreated into a corner, 
 as if he dreaded another blow from that 
 powerful fist. 
 
 His eye had already began to blacken 
 and swell up. 
 
 " Well," continued Hardy. " Hear 
 me smile." 
 
 " What ? " 
 
 "Hear me smile. I planted that 
 blow just right." 
 
 " Get out, you idiot ! " exclaimed Bragg. 
 " You can't hear anybody smile. You're 
 ofi' your nut. Slope ! " 
 
 He threw a boot at him ; the red- 
 headed one ducked and it missed him. 
 
 Then he disappeared. 
 
 Bill Bragg looked astonished. 
 
 " By Jove ! " he said, gasping for 
 breath, " that fellow is the worst new 
 boy I ever saw in my life. We shall 
 have to take him down a peg." 
 
 Jack and Owen rose to go. 
 
 " We'll leave you to it," replied Jack, 
 " and wish you luck, old boy." 
 
 " Don't go." 
 
 " Can't stop. If he comes back give 
 him some thunder and lightning." 
 
 " Happy thought. I'll do it," answered 
 Bill Bragg. 
 
 Picking up the scattered contents of 
 his chemical chest, he prepared a charge 
 of lycopodium for the new boy with the 
 red hair if he appeared again. 
 
 ^^'hen Jack and Owen returned to 
 the foi-mer's room, Jack expressed him- 
 self as perfectly satisfied with the infor- 
 mation he had received from Bragg 
 respecting the gipsies. 
 
 " I am convinced," he said, " that 
 EfiBe is not far off, and I also feel certain 
 that some desperate deed is in contem- 
 plation." 
 
 " Why not go to the police ? " asked 
 Owen. 
 
 "That is a course I have hitherto 
 avoided. I will make my own inquiries 
 first. To-morrow I will go to the old 
 house on the Datchet road and see if 
 Timor and his confederates are still 
 there." 
 
 " Be careful." 
 
 "Certainly I will. Don't you suppose 
 I know the people I am dealing with ? " 
 
 Jack was very much interested in 
 little EfSe, and wished above all things 
 
126 
 
 TU£ SCUOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON 
 
 to restore her to her father, whom he 
 had seen more than once since his return 
 to Eton. 
 
 The poor old gentleman had employed 
 detectives, and advertised for her in the 
 news|iaper8, spending a great deal of 
 money to no purpose. 
 
 He could hear no tidings of her. 
 
 Simpson, the chief of the Windsor 
 police, was completely baffled. 
 
 Never in the whole course of his 
 experience had he met with such astute 
 and cunning malefactors as Ivan and his 
 gang. 
 
 That evening, while Jack was doing 
 some Latin verses to show up the next 
 day, Mr. Dryasdust came into his room. 
 
 It was his custom frequently to come 
 into the boys' rooms and talk in a friendly, 
 almost fatherly, way to them. 
 
 He tried to get them to trust in and 
 love him. 
 
 This was much better than ruling 
 them by terror, for if boys are treated 
 harshly they will generally deceive their 
 
 " Hard at work, Dashley ? " he asked, 
 in a kindly tone. 
 
 " Yes, sir," replied Jack. 
 
 "Nothing like it. What are you 
 engaged on ? " 
 
 " Latin verses. The subject is Pro- 
 metheus Vinctus, sir. I have had it 
 before, and it is an easy one." 
 
 " Yes ; do not let me interrupt you. 
 Are you comfortable and happy ? " 
 
 " Very. I have nothing to complain 
 of, and Uke Eton very much, sir. No- 
 thing has troubled me, I assure you, 
 since Timor was sent away." 
 
 " Ah, that reminds me that I have 
 news for you." 
 
 " Indeed ! What is it, sir ? " 
 
 " I think Timor is coming back again," 
 said Mr. Dryasdust. 
 
 At this declaration Jack was very 
 much astonished. 
 
 " Is that a fact, sir ? " he exclaimed. 
 " I thought if a boy was expelled from 
 Eton he could not come back." 
 
 " The head master has the power of 
 doing what he likes. Timor's father, 
 the Russian Prince Petroskowitch, has 
 been to see him, urging him to inflict 
 some other punishment, and the matter 
 is under consideration now." 
 
 Jack looked very grave. 
 
 "I shall be sorry, for one," he re- 
 
 marked. " Timor is my openly-avowed 
 enemy, and I shall have further trouble 
 with him." 
 
 " Let us hope not." 
 
 " Will he come into our house again, 
 sir ? " 
 
 " Yes. I am very much against 
 having him, but if Timor consents to 
 receive corporal punishment — that is, to 
 be switched and turned down into a 
 lower division, I beheve the head master 
 will receive him." 
 
 " The boys won't Uke it, and it will 
 not do the house any credit." 
 
 " We will be charitable," said Mr. 
 Dryasdust. " If he should come, let 
 bygones be bygones, and give him a 
 chance to retrieve his character." 
 
 " I shall not speak to him." 
 
 « Why not ? " 
 
 " Oh, I can't forget all the harm he 
 tried to do me, and the best way will be 
 to cut him dead," answered Jack. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust did not try to alter 
 Jack's determination, although he looked 
 somewhat grave and pained at such a 
 declaration of hostility. 
 
 " Which is Hardy's room ? " be asked. 
 
 " The new boy with the alarming head 
 of hair, sir ? " 
 
 " Yes ; he arrived to-day." 
 
 " Next to Owen Tudor's, sir." 
 
 " I want to see if he is all right. He 
 is from Milton House School, which he 
 left under peculiar circumstances, I 
 believe." 
 
 " What were they, sir ? " 
 
 " I do not exactly know myself. His 
 father hinted so much to me, but I did 
 not enter into particulars with him." 
 
 Saying this, ^Ir. Dryasdust wished 
 Jack good-night and went on his way. 
 
 " WeD," mused Jack. " I used to be 
 proud of the house, but I'll be hanged 
 if I know what it is coming to now. 
 Timor coming back, and this red-haired 
 genius, who left his last school under 
 peculiar circumstances, arriving here, 
 make it look as if we were going in for 
 black sheep wholesale, with a liberal 
 discount oflF for cash." 
 
 That night he thought over his resolve 
 to try and find Effie. 
 
 She came to him in a dream, holding 
 out her arms and begging him to help 
 her, for she was in great distress. 
 
 He awoke with a start, crying — 
 
 " Effie, my darling, I am here ! " 
 
OK, TOE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CBVttB. 
 
 127 
 
 The grey dawn was visible through 
 the window, and he fancied he saw some- 
 thing white and shadowy vanishing in 
 the extreme distance. 
 
 This dream and apparition confirmed 
 him in his resolution, and after school 
 was over he started on his expedition, 
 
 Owen wanted to come with him, but 
 he would not let him, because if there 
 was any danger to be incurred he wanted 
 to bear it himself, without dragging his 
 friend into it. 
 
 On the way he passed Mr. Soda's 
 house. 
 
 Not intending to go in, he hurried by, 
 but Quicksilver hajipened to be on the 
 roof and saw him. 
 
 " Hey, Master Jack," he cried, " where 
 are you off to ? " 
 
 " I've got business to attend to," was 
 the reply. 
 
 " What business ? " 
 
 " I'm in training for a walking-match. 
 Five pounds a side. Three miles, out 
 and home." 
 
 *' My word ! Hope you'll win. Let 
 me come and train with you." 
 
 " Stop where you are." 
 
 " I'm coming down. Mrs. Soda set 
 the kitchen-chimney on fire throwing a 
 paraffin lamp at her husband, and I had 
 to come up here to stop the draught, so 
 I sat on the chimney-pot. Hold on, 
 Master Jack, I'm a-coming." 
 
 He might have gone down a trap- 
 door, but there was a pear-tree growing 
 near by. 
 
 It was trained up the side of the house, 
 and he preferred going that way. 
 
 Jack had to enter the grounds. 
 
 " You'll break your neck some day, 
 young man, as sure as fate," he re- 
 marked. 
 
 " What's the odds ? We is all got to 
 die some day," replied Quicksilver, care- 
 lessly. 
 
 The beU began to ring furiously. 
 
 " They're calling you," said Jack. 
 
 " Let 'em call. Master's having a hot 
 time of it. He ordered a wig yester- 
 day." 
 
 " What for ? " 
 
 " The old woman went for his scalp 
 yesterday, and I don't believe the best 
 hair-restorer in the country would do 
 him any good." 
 
 " Wliat are the words of the poet ? " 
 said Jack, laughing. 
 
 " Give it up, Master Jack. The 
 governor will tell you if you step inside." 
 
 " Not to-day, Quicksilver. I've got 
 to come up to-morrow. It's coaching 
 night." 
 
 " Master Jack," continued Quicksilver, 
 " I wish you would stay. I had b.ui 
 dreams about you these last three 
 nights." 
 
 " Nothing will happen to me ; don't 
 be afraid," Jack said, cheerfully. 
 
 He walked rapidly away, but Quiclt- 
 silver determined to follow him, and dis- 
 regarding the noisy summons of the bell, 
 he kept Jack in sight as he went up the 
 road. 
 
 Jack soon found the house where he 
 had seen the face at the window. 
 
 It was in the same neglected con- 
 dition, but the path leading to the front 
 door had been trampled upon. 
 
 Going boldly up he knocked at the 
 door. 
 
 Quicksilver hid behind the trunk of a 
 tree, wondering what business Jack could 
 have there. 
 
 The door was opened, and before Jack 
 
 could utter a word he was seized by the 
 
 collar of his coat and dragged into the 
 
 j house, the door being instantly closed 
 
 I behind him. 
 
 I He was taken into a darkened room. 
 
 The shutters were up, the blinds 
 I down, and the apartment lighted only 
 1 by a lamp. 
 
 Seated in arm-chairs were Ivan and 
 I Timor. 
 
 " Stand there," said his captor, who 
 was no other than Bill Silver. 
 
 Jack saw that he was caught in a trap. 
 
 " So, Mr. Dashley, you couldn't keep 
 away ? " exclaimed Ivan. 
 
 Jack made no answer. 
 
 " Quite fond of us, isn't he ? " said 
 Timor, with a sneer. 
 
 " You escaped from us when we had 
 you in the cave, but we have been 
 expecting you," continued Ivan, " and I 
 assure you we have made extensive 
 preparations for you." 
 
 " Let me go," cried Jack. 
 
 " Oh, dear no. Couldn't think of 
 parting with you after so long a separa- 
 tion. Sit down while Silver prepares 
 your dungeon cell." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " cried Jack. 
 
 " Simply that we have a lovely cellar 
 underground, the only communication 
 
128 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 with which is through a trap-door. 
 There is jilenty of straw. You will have 
 one loaf of bread and a pitcher of water, 
 not to do you good, but to prolong your 
 
 ony." 
 
 " You'll get yourself into trouble, let 
 tell you that," said Jack. 
 
 " We will run the risk of incurring 
 
 ur displeasure," replied Timor. 
 
 Jack got angry, and giving Bill SiK'er 
 a push, began to make his way towards 
 the door. 
 
 " Stop him. Silver," cried Ivan ; " he 
 does not appreciate our kindness." 
 
 Bill Silver immediately gave Jack a 
 blow with his fist which caused him to 
 reel against the wall, where he stood for 
 a moment, stunned and bleeding, 
 
 " Cowards ! " he stammered. 
 
 "Don't become abusive, dear boy," 
 exclaimed Timor. " It won't do you any 
 good." 
 
 " I want to go home," Jack said, feel- 
 ing sorry that he had been rash enough 
 to enter the house. 
 
 " Poor fellow,'' replied Ivan. " It's a 
 pity that you are so homesick. I regret 
 exceedingly that we cannot oblige you." 
 
 " Thieves and robbers ! " cried Jack. 
 " You are forging Russian bank-notes, 
 and I know it." 
 
 Ivan laughed. 
 
 " How precise his information is," he 
 answered. "Silver, show him some of 
 our latest productions. If he is a judge 
 of high art he cannot help but admire 
 them." 
 
 Bill opened a drawer, and produced a 
 bundle of skilfully-executed notes, which 
 he held up for Jack's inspection. 
 
 " It will all come home to you," said 
 Jack, " and if you offer me any violence 
 you will sufi'er for it." 
 
 " In what way, eh, my bantam ? " 
 
 Jack was about to say that his friend 
 Oweu Tudor knew where he was, but he 
 thought on reflection that he had better 
 say nothing about it, so he maintained 
 an obstinate silence. 
 
 " Answer my question, you English 
 dog," cried Ivan. 
 
 " I will not, you Russian bear," he 
 replied. 
 
 " KjII the fool out of the way, and we 
 shall have no more trouble with him ! " 
 exclaimed Timor. 
 
 " No, no ; we will shed no blood. He 
 has rushed on his fate. Bie he must, 
 
 because he knows too much, and it would 
 not be s;ife to let him go." 
 
 " Very well, uncle, have your own 
 way," replied Timor, " only tike iiim out 
 of my sight. I shall shoot him if he 
 stays here." 
 
 Ivan waved his hand, which was a, 
 signal to Bill Silver to remove the 
 prisoner, which he did in his usaal rough 
 manner. 
 
 It was useless to resist, and Jack 
 sufifered himself to be dragged down to 
 the cellar of which Ivan had sjwken. 
 
 The trap-door was lifted, disclosing a 
 black gulf, 
 
 "Down 3-ou go," cried Silver. 
 
 " Oh, don't put me in like a dead rat," 
 said Jack, " I might break my leg," 
 
 " What's the odds ? You've got to 
 die of starvation." 
 
 "Silver," said Jack, mnking a last 
 attempt to move his captor, " it's no use 
 talking to those Russians upstairs ; but 
 you are an Englishman," 
 
 " I know that without your telling me." 
 
 "I've been good to your boy. Silver. 
 When you had to go away, I got him a 
 place." 
 
 " Nonsense, It was you who ruined 
 him. Where is he now ? " demanded 
 Silver. 
 
 " Will you let me go if I tell you ? " 
 
 " Not much. I don't care for the 
 brat: He can go and hang himself if he 
 likes." 
 
 "You're an unnatural parent. You 
 ought to have some feeling for your 
 son." 
 
 " He's old enough to take care of him- 
 self. What do I want with him? Now 
 then, make ready ; down with you," 
 Silver replied. 
 
 He gave Jack a push and sent him 
 down the trap-door, which immediately 
 closed over him. 
 j Fortunately he had not far to fall, 
 ; and only sustained a shock without 
 1 breaking any bones, as he had feared he 
 j might. 
 
 All was pitchy darkness, there being 
 no window, or even hole, for ventilation. 
 
 The atmosphere was ihitnp and foetid. 
 
 Groping on his hands and knees, he 
 felt a heap of mouldy straw, upon which 
 he sat down, 
 
 "I didn't expect this," he muttered, 
 " or I wouldn't have come. iVly only hope 
 now is in Owen." 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON. 
 
 No. 9. 
 
THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 laj 
 
 We must leave him in the solitude of 
 the dungeon to return to Quicksilver, 
 who had climbed into a tree to await 
 Jack's return. 
 
 He had seen the door open and some 
 one drag him into the house, which 
 caused him great uneasiness. 
 
 Two hours passed and there were no 
 signs of Jack. 
 
 He was beginning to despair of seeing 
 him again, when the door opened and 
 Bill Silver came out. 
 
 " Why, there's my dad," he said to 
 himself ; '* what's he up to ? " 
 
 Silver held a jug in his hand, as if he 
 was going for beer at the public-house, 
 and passed right under the tree. 
 " Hey ! " cried Quicksilver. 
 His father looked up in surprise and 
 beheld his son. 
 
 " You imp ! " he exclaimed. " What 
 are you doing perched up there ? " 
 " I ain't doing nothing." 
 " Come down." 
 
 " I shan't, unless you promise not to 
 lick me," replied Quicksilver. 
 
 " We'll see about that," cried his 
 father, who began to throw stones at him, 
 but the tree was a tall elm, and the boy 
 dodged about from branch to branch 
 with almost incredible rapidity. 
 Just inside the garden was an axe. 
 Setting down the jug, he took up the 
 axe, and, with a chuckle, began to chop 
 the tree. 
 
 " "\Miat are you up to now, dad ? " in- 
 quired Quicksilver, who felt the tree 
 quiver, responsive to the first stroke of 
 the axe. 
 
 " Cutting the blessed old tree down. 
 If I can't get you one way I wiU another," 
 was the answer. 
 
 The boy had not anticipated this. 
 He resolved to try and make terms. 
 " WTiat are you going to do with me ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 " You'll have to come and live along 
 of me, my lad, and wait on me, same as 
 you did when we were in the cave in the 
 forest." 
 
 " All right ; I'll come if you won't 
 beat me," replied Quicksilver. 
 
 He descended the tree quickly, and 
 Bill stretched out his hand to seize him, 
 but he slipped underneath his arm and 
 ran up the road like lightning. 
 
 It was useless for Bill to try and 
 overtake him: the result would have 
 
 been like a contest of speed between a 
 cart and a race-horse. 
 
 "Dash the luck !" he cried. "That 
 boy knows too much for me. What he 
 doesn't know isn't worth knowing." 
 
 Quicksilver stopped when he had gone 
 a safe distance, and, looking at his irate 
 father, put his finger very rudely to his 
 nose. 
 
 " Sold again, old man ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 It was an irreverent thing for a son to 
 
 do to a father, but considering the 
 
 character of that father it was perhaps 
 
 justifiable under the circumstances. 
 
 " Oh, you Hmb ! " said Bill ; " wait 
 till we meet again. It'U keep — no 
 matter — it'll lose nothing by keeping. 
 I'll pay you." 
 
 Shaking his'fist, he possessed himself 
 once more of the pitcher, and started off 
 after the beer. 
 
 It did not occur to Bill for a moment 
 that his son had seen anything of Jack's 
 disappearance, consequently the forgers 
 took no manner of precaution, nor did 
 they think it at all necessary to be on 
 their guard. 
 
 The forgers had occupied the old 
 house so long without molestation, that 
 they had become foolhardy and indifferent 
 to danger. 
 
 QuicksUver had sense enough to know 
 that as Jack did not issue from the house 
 again, he was in peril, so he hastened to 
 the coUege to consult with Owen. 
 
 Owen was in school, so he waited in 
 the street near his house until he came 
 out. 
 
 " Ah, Quicksey ! " cried Owen, who 
 had been surprised at Jack's absence 
 from school. " Have you seen Jack ? " 
 
 "Yes. I think he wants help," replied 
 the boy. 
 
 Owen was anxious to know what had 
 happened to him, and listened atten- 
 tively to all that he was told. 
 
 " This is very serious," he observed. 
 " I was afraid that something like this 
 would take place when Dashley told me 
 where he was going. We must warn 
 the police at once." 
 
 " You don't think they have killed 
 him ? " asked Quicksilver, anxiously. 
 " I am sure of one thing." 
 " What's that ? " 
 
 " If they haven't, they will, for Timor 
 will never let Jack go out of that house 
 alive, if he can help it," said Owen. " I 
 
J 32 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON: 
 
 thiuk I will go to Mr. Simpson without 
 any delay, and we will attack the house 
 at nightfall." 
 
 Qaicksilver no sooner heard this than 
 he thought of his father. 
 
 He was very anxious to save Jack, 
 but at the same time he did not want 
 any harm to haiipon to his parent. 
 
 '" All right," he replied. " You go to 
 the police, Master Owen, and I'll go 
 back and watch the house, so that I can 
 tell you if anybody escapes." 
 
 "Do so." 
 
 They shook bauds and sepavatexl, each 
 going in a different direction. 
 
 Quicksilver went home to ^Ir. Soda's, 
 bad a good dinner — of which he stood in 
 need — and sallied forth refreshed to visit 
 once more the old house at Datchet. 
 
 He looked all around, but could see 
 nothing of his father. 
 
 Taking up a few stones, he cast them 
 fit the windows, whistling the while in a 
 ).peuliar way to imitate a whip-poor- 
 will. 
 
 This bad often been a signal between 
 his fatlier and himself in the forest. 
 
 Presently the door opened and Bill 
 Silver appeared, carrying a lantern. 
 
 It was rapidly growing dark, and he 
 could not see anyone, so he whistled 
 again. 
 
 " Is that you, Quicksey ? " asked he. 
 
 " Yes, father. I want to warn you." 
 
 '■ Against what, my lad ? " 
 
 "It's kuown in the college that Jack 
 of Eton entered this house and never 
 came out again. The hawks will be 
 down on you before long." 
 
 At this communication Bill Silver 
 was very much surprised, but he was 
 greatly pleased also, as there was yet 
 time to arrange everything for an escape. 
 
 " You're a good boy," said his father. 
 " Come with me up to London, and I'll 
 ))romise not to hit you again." 
 
 " Can't do it, father. I know you," 
 replied Quicksilver. " You're all very 
 well when you're sober, but when the 
 drink's in you, it makes you forget every- 
 thing. No. I'll never do you any 
 iiarm, but I can get my own living 
 without being with you." 
 
 Bill Silver made fiuitless efforts to 
 persuade his son to change his mind, for 
 
 he really felt that he should like to liave 
 him with him once more. 
 
 The boy cut short any further infor- 
 mation by retiring up the road, and 
 climbing up to somebody's pigeon-house, 
 where he hid himself. 
 
 A couple of hours elapsed. 
 
 Quicksilver fancied he saw shadowy 
 forms flitting about the grounds of the 
 old house — lights flashed at intei-vals, 
 and it was clear that the inmates were 
 very busy. 
 
 About nine o'clock the police arrived 
 in strong force, guided by Owen. 
 
 When Quicksilver saw him, he 
 descended from his perch and stopped 
 Owen, saying — 
 
 " Here I am." 
 
 Owen turned to Mr. Simpson. 
 
 " This is the boy Quicksilver, of whom 
 I spoke to you ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 "Yes, I know him," answered Simpson, 
 dryly. " His father is supposed to be 
 one of the forgers. You should not 
 have allowed him to come up here." 
 
 •' \'S'hy not ? " 
 
 " Don't you recollect what he did in 
 the matter of the cave ? He warned 
 his fiither, and we lost Bill Silver, as we 
 are likely to do to-day." 
 
 Owen bit his lips with vexation, for he 
 saw the force of these remarks. 
 
 "Boy," continued the police officer, 
 " has anyone left the house since you've 
 been here ? " 
 
 "Not that I know of, sir," replied 
 Quicksilver. 
 
 "Well, we will surround the house, 
 and do our best, though it isn't that 
 youngster's fault if the birds have not 
 flown." 
 
 The house was accordingly surrounded 
 by a cordon of police, so as to make 
 escape impossible, and the inspector with 
 half-a-dozen men went to the front 
 door. 
 
 Owen and Quicksilver remained in the 
 rear. 
 
 A knock at the front door brought no 
 answer. 
 
 " Burst it open," cried Simpson. 
 
 A vigorous onslaught was at once 
 made upon the lock with a crowbar, but 
 for a while it resisted all attempts to 
 force it. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVril. 
 
 TDE HGHT IN THE OLD HOUSE. 
 
 The chief of the police was well ac- 
 quainted with the desperate nature of 
 the men with whom he had to deal, and 
 had taken every precaution which his 
 long experience as an officer could 
 suggest. 
 
 In addition to their truncheons, every 
 man was armed with a revolver, so that 
 if firearms were used by the forgers, 
 shots could be fired in return. 
 
 The assault on the door was continued, 
 but it was made of solid oak, and for a 
 time resisted the blows of the sledge- 
 hammers which were used against it. 
 
 ^^^len the attack began, Ivan, Timor, 
 and Bill Silver were together. 
 
 " They're at it," exclaimed Bill, who 
 turned as pale as his red face would 
 permit. "The game is up." 
 
 " Yes," replied Ivan ; " we will escape 
 by the subterranean passage." 
 
 " And lose no time," remarked Timor. 
 " I for one have no wish to fall into the 
 hands of the police." 
 
 Bill Silver grinned diabolically as he 
 pointed to the front door. 
 
 "They don't know what's in store for 
 them when they do get it open," he said. 
 
 Nor did they. 
 
 The fiendish ingenuity of Ivan had 
 suggested an idea which only a miscreant 
 like himself would have thought of. 
 
 A can of nitro-glycerine, which is a 
 most explosive compound, had been 
 affixed to the lock of the door, in such a 
 way that when it was forced it must go 
 off, with disastrous effect to anyone who 
 happened to be near. 
 
 "Eun upstairs into the printing-room, 
 my good friend Silver," continued Ivan, 
 "and bring down a bundle of rouble 
 notes I left there. We can get rid of 
 them in London, and I shall want some 
 money." 
 
 Silver growled deeply, like an enraged 
 wolf. 
 
 "\Vhy didn't you think of that 
 before ? " he asked. 
 
 " It escaped my memory." 
 
 " I've a good mind to tell yon to go 
 yourself. We've no time to lose. Hark ! 
 how they are knocking at the door," 
 
 " We will wait for you in the passage." 
 
 Silver reluctantly quitted the room 
 and went upstairs after the roll of notes. 
 
 No sooner was he gone than Ivau 
 looked meaningly at Timor. 
 
 " Come, let us hurry," he exclaimeil, 
 " and leave that fool to his fate. I have 
 had enough of him, and shall bo glad of 
 this opportunity of getting rid of him." 
 
 "He is no companion for us," replied 
 Timor, "and we have mado all the iise 
 we can of him." 
 
 " You are right." 
 
 Hastily they sought a small staircase, 
 which led into the coal-cellar. 
 
 Striking a light, Ivan disclosed a door, 
 which he opened with a private key. 
 
 This allowed them to enter a passage 
 dug in the clay, which ran under the 
 road, and ended in a field on the other 
 side, the exit being concealed by a 
 clump of alders. 
 
 " Enter," cried Ivan, who was cool as 
 ice, and as methodical in all his move- 
 ments as fate. 
 
 His nephew passed into the narrow 
 aperture — he followed, closing and 
 locking the door after him. 
 
 They had basely left Bill Silver to his 
 fate. 
 
 Threading the passage, they emerged 
 on the other side in the cool night aii', 
 and without attracting any attention, 
 crossed the fields in the direction of 
 Slough, 
 
 As they went along they could hear 
 the repeated and incessant blows of the 
 sledge-hammers, and the hoarse cries of 
 the police as they incited each other to 
 increased exertions. 
 
 Meanwhile, Bill Silver had possessed 
 himself of the notes, and made his way 
 to the door of the underground passage 
 which the forgers had made, with 
 infinite trouble, at the time they first 
 took possession of the house, knowing 
 that it woiald be an easy means of 
 escaping if they were attacked, 
 
 " Halloa, Ivan! " he cried. "What's 
 this, Timor ? WTiere are you ? " 
 
 A sepulchral echo alone replied to him. 
 
 "The door's locked I V»'here are 
 
134 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON: 
 
 you ? " he continued. " Can't you 
 answer a chap ? " 
 
 He kicked furiously against the door, 
 which gave out a hollow sound which 
 struck to his heart like the knell of 
 doom. 
 
 Then the truth burst upon him in all 
 its unutterable horror. 
 
 His cowardly and treacherous com- 
 panions had abandoned him to his fate ! 
 
 When this conviction was forced upon 
 him, his knees trembled under him, his 
 jaw dropped, and he turned ghastly pale, 
 his thin lips becoming actually livid; 
 big drops of perspiration stood upon his 
 brow, and his short stubbly hair stood on 
 end. 
 
 " Gone ! " he moaned ; " gone — the 
 mean miserable hounds! Left me in 
 '^he lurch — hang them ! I might have 
 expected nothing less from the dirty 
 Russians. But I'll sell my life dearly— 
 no penal servitude for me. The police 
 have too much against me. I should go 
 for life this time, and I'd rather die a 
 thousand deaths. I only want to live 
 long enough to give information about 
 Ivan and Timor, which will place them 
 in a fix." 
 
 Quitting the cellar, he made his way 
 up the stairs, and entered the sitting- 
 room on the ground floor, locking the 
 door after him. 
 
 On the table was a pair of pistols, 
 one of which he grasped in each hand. 
 
 "Now, then, come on," he cried to 
 his still invisible foes ; " I am ready for 
 you, and Bill Silver will show that he is 
 no coward, and knows how to die." 
 
 Scarcely had the words left his lips 
 when the street door gave way with a 
 crash, and a terrible explosion was heard, 
 shaking the house to its foundations. 
 
 Then all was quiet and silent as the 
 grave for a few minutes. 
 
 Several policemen were injured by 
 the explosion, one being killed outright. 
 
 Nothing daunted, however, Simpson, 
 followed by half-a-dozen men, rushed 
 into the house, which they searched from 
 top to bottom, finding nobody. 
 
 They then commenced an attack on 
 the sitting-room door. 
 
 Silver fired several shots through the 
 woodwork, wounding two men. 
 
 The fire was returned. 
 
 At length the door gave way, and 
 Silver was seen enveloped in a cloud of 
 
 smoke ; one arm, which hung useless by 
 his side, was bleeding profusely from a 
 bullet wound ; with the other he con- 
 tinued to fire, as if anxious to direct the 
 shots of the police against himself. 
 
 Simpson determined to put a stop to 
 this scene of carnage, for his men were 
 falling thick around him. 
 
 Taking deliberate aim at the hardened 
 and maddened ruffian, he put a bullet in 
 his lungs and stretched him on the floor. 
 
 " Yield ! " he cried, snatching the 
 pistol from his hand. 
 
 "I'm d— done for!" gasped Silver. 
 " It's — all — up — this — j — journey. 
 Heaven help " 
 
 A rush of blood choked his further 
 utterance and his eyes began to glaze. 
 
 The injured men were now seen to, 
 and a doctor sent for. 
 
 The affair had been quite a sanguinary 
 encounter, for, between the effects of 
 the explosion and Silver's firing, nearly 
 a dozen men were more or less injured, 
 one being dead. 
 
 Simpson took possession of the house, 
 the printing press, the engraved plates, 
 and the notes. 
 
 He was deeply chagrined at not 
 capturing anyone else, and ordered a 
 strict search of the surrounding country 
 to be made, but without result. 
 
 When the fight was over, Owen Tudor 
 and Quicksilver were admitted to the 
 premises. Owen busied himself in 
 looking for Jack, but Quicksilver 
 searched for his father. 
 
 The lamps had been lighted, and he 
 penetrated to the sitting-room, where 
 he saw something covered with a sheet. 
 
 " What is that ?" he asked of Simpson. 
 
 " Nothing for you to look at, my poor 
 boy," replied Simpson ; " go away." 
 
 " I must see it," Quicksilver continued, 
 having an indefinable presentiment of 
 evil. 
 
 Darting forward, he drew aside the 
 sheet before he could be prevented, and 
 the pallid, blood-stained face of his father, 
 distorted by the agony of death, was 
 revealed. 
 
 With a loud and bitter cry he threw 
 himself upon the body, and broke out 
 into a despairing wail. 
 
 " Father, father, why did you die ? " 
 he asked, pathetically. 
 
 Badly as Silver had treated his son, 
 the boy was heart-broken at his loss, and 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OK TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 they could not drag him away from the 
 corpse, at whose side he remained all 
 night. 
 
 Owen spared no efifort to find Jack, 
 but so securely was he hidden that his 
 endeavours all failed. 
 
 Bafi3ed, he sought Simpson, who, in a 
 drawer of a bureau, had found a plan of 
 the house, which he was studying. 
 
 " I am afraid they have killed my 
 poor friend and buried his body," he 
 remarked. 
 
 " Humph ! " replied Simpson, " I am 
 not prepared to say that, though the 
 matter is perplexing. Have you been 
 in the two cellars ? " 
 
 " Two ? There's only one." 
 
 " Look at this," Simpson said, putting 
 his finger on a spot marked " Cellar No. 
 1, wine." " If this map is correct, and 
 we have no reason to believe otherwise 
 there are two cellars. Let us go and look." 
 
 Accordingly they again made an in- 
 spection of the house, and were rewarded 
 by seeing a trap-door. 
 
 This was lifted up, and a voice 
 exclaimed from the depth — 
 
 " Up aloft ! what cheer ? " 
 
 " Good cheer, my hearty," replied 
 Owen. " That's Jack's voice." 
 
 It was Jack, alive and well, though 
 faint from want of food and depressed by 
 the fear of starvation which haunted him. 
 
 They soon got him up and related all 
 that had happened, Owen all the time 
 8 ruggling with his emotion at the 
 recovery of his friend, sometimes laugh- 
 ing, at others crying. 
 
 " Timor and Ivan were in the house," 
 said Jack ; " that I'll swear to." 
 
 " It matters very little," answered 
 Simpson, " for I have been called upon 
 by an agent of the Secret Service 
 Department, telling me not to arrest 
 either Ivan or Timor. They have power- 
 ful friends in the Foreign Office." 
 
 " But is that justice ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Of course it is not, but such is the 
 feet." 
 
 Jack and Owen took leave of Simpson 
 and returned to college, glad that the 
 nest of forgers was broken up. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust was very pleased to see 
 them, and shook his head when he heard 
 of Timor's share in the outrage. 
 
 " I shall be sorry if that young man 
 comes back to the house," he remarked ; 
 " but if the head master decides upon 
 taking him I can only submit, and I 
 should advise you have as little to do 
 with him as possible." 
 
 " You may be sure of that, sir," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 The boys retired to bed after supper, 
 tired out with the adventures of the 
 day. 
 
 CHAPTER XXDL 
 
 Simpson's raid on the forgers made a 
 great sensation throughout the country. 
 
 But he said as little as possible about 
 Ivan and Timor. 
 
 A fresh order came from the head 
 office in London to hush up the affair, 
 which had caused the Russian govern- 
 ment great uneasiness. 
 
 He had not forgotten little Effie and 
 the gipsies. 
 
 As soon as Bill Silver and the dead 
 policeman were buried, he started out to 
 walk to Gunstock's cottage in the park. 
 
 The weather was fine, though a little 
 cold, and the gamekeeper was sitting 
 outside his cottage. 
 
 " What news, old man ? " asked Simp- 
 son. 
 
 " It's you who make all the new*," 
 replied Gunstock. " I've been reading 
 in the paper all about your raid on the 
 old house in Datchet. The Russian fox 
 was too quick for you." 
 
 " Yes. It is a mystery to me how he 
 got away, but he did. Have you seen 
 anything of the gipsies lately ? " 
 
 " Not later than yesterday," answered 
 Gunstock. 
 
 The superintendent's eyes lighted up. 
 
 " Where are they ? " he demanded. 
 
 " I had occasion to go to Ascot Heath," 
 Gunstock said, "and ever since I got 
 shot by that Tartar, Ivan, I've had a keen 
 eye for gipsies. In fact, I hate a gipsy 
 worse than I do a black snake. Well, I 
 saw some tents and took a look ronnd. 
 
136 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETOS : 
 
 Ivan wasn't there, but I saw some familiar 
 faces, notably that of the girl in the 
 scarlet cloak." 
 
 " Little Effie ? " 
 
 " The same." 
 
 " Bravo ! "exclaimed Simpson. "There's 
 a reward of fifty pounds out for that girl, 
 and as the information came from you 
 I'll give j'ou half of it." 
 
 " Keep it yourself. I'm not in want," 
 replied Gunstock. 
 
 " Fair is fair," continued Simpson. 
 " Will you guide me to the place ? " 
 
 " When ? " 
 
 " Now this minute." 
 
 Gunstock seemed to hesitate. 
 
 " Are you afraid ? " asked Simpson. 
 
 " What ? " cried the keeper, indig- 
 nantly. " Me afraid of a gipsy ? "So, 
 sir ; I never saw the gipsy I was afraid 
 of yet." 
 
 " Then why don't you come along like 
 a man." 
 
 " Because I have had an order to shoot 
 a couple of fat bucks, which are to be 
 sent up to the venison larder in St. 
 James's Palace. Are you a good shot ? " 
 
 " None so dusty." 
 
 " Take a gun then, and well stalk the 
 deer as we walk through the park to 
 Ascot," said Gunstock. 
 
 They provided themselves with a 
 couple of breechloaders, powder and sliot, 
 and whistling to a deer hound, they 
 started on their walk. 
 
 The deer had left the Home Park that 
 day, and were gone into the upper por- 
 tion of the forest, above the statue at 
 the end of the Long Walk. 
 
 When this spot was reached, they 
 turned off at a tangent and made for the 
 Tower, which stands in an isolated posi- 
 tion. 
 
 Near this spot they encountered a 
 herd of deer. 
 
 "There's the slot of a big buck," cried 
 Gunstock, pointing to some hoof-prints 
 in the damp soil. 
 
 "Eight you are," replied Simpson. 
 " I'll wager a bottle of wine that it is a 
 stag of ten tynes." 
 
 " Ten ! More likely seventeen. Get 
 to windward, or they'll sent us." 
 
 Carefully they stalked the deer, 
 succeeding in getting within shot, when 
 they both selected their quarry and 
 6red. 
 
 Two splendid stags fell at their first 
 
 shot, and with the second barrels they 
 killed a couple of roe deer. 
 
 Gunstock ran up, and severing the 
 necks of the fallen animals, as the rest 
 of the deer scudded away with the 
 swiftness of the wind, left the bodies 
 where they fell until they returned. 
 
 " The venison is all right," said Gun- 
 stock. "Now for the heath. What 
 will you do if the gipsies show fight ? " 
 
 " Fight 'em back," replied Simpson. 
 " I mean having that girl. My profes- 
 sional reputation is at stake on that." 
 
 " Who wants her ? " 
 
 " Her father, ISIr. Vavasour, one ol 
 the knights at the castle. She was 
 stolen when she was quite a child." 
 
 As they walked along he told the 
 keeper all about EfiBe, and how Jack 
 had found out to whom she belonged. 
 
 The distance from Windsor to Ascot 
 was only about six miles, and when they 
 reached the heath, Gunstock led his 
 companion at once to the spot where the 
 gipsies were encamped. 
 
 All was bleak and bare. 
 
 The scene could not be called pic- 
 turesque, for it was unrelieved by a 
 single tree. 
 
 The heath somewhat resembled the 
 illimitable prairie of the Far West, and 
 the tents of the gipsies might have been 
 taken for the teepess of the Red Indians. 
 
 It was growing dark. 
 
 Already the shades of night were 
 falling fast, but the fires of the gipsies 
 glared red against the dull leaden sky. 
 
 It was their supper time. 
 
 Pots were hanging on tripods over the 
 fire, and from them a savoury smell of 
 rabbits, chickens and other good things, 
 stewing with onions. 
 
 Flitting round one of these pots was 
 httle Effie. 
 
 Simpson and Gunstock appeared on 
 the scene abruptly. 
 
 The gipsies who were lounging about, 
 smoking and talking, looked at them 
 askance, as if they regarded them as 
 intruders. 
 
 " Good evening," exclaimed Simpson. 
 
 "What do you want here?" asked 
 Golos, who was the leader of the gipsies 
 since Ivan had gone away. " We are 
 not in the park now." 
 
 " Oh, you know me ! " 
 
 " Yes, I know you for the persecutor 
 of the poor Zingari." 
 
OK, THE ADVEWTUIIES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 137 
 
 Simpson went up to Effie and touched 
 her on the arm, which made her shrink 
 away from him, as if she apprehended 
 some evil. 
 
 " Little girl," he said, " I want you to 
 come with me." 
 
 " What for ? I have done nothing," 
 she replied with the air of a timid fawn. 
 
 "I am the chief of the Windsor 
 police." 
 
 " Oh, heaven, a policeman ! Golos, I 
 am arrested." 
 
 She shrieked this out at the top of 
 her voice, and Golos instantly came to 
 her side, while the other gipsies, male 
 and female, crowded round, some draw- 
 ing knives and others pistols. 
 
 Etfie was the darling of the camp. 
 
 It was an exciting moment, and the 
 scene, from being common-place, at once 
 became romantic. 
 
 Golos was a tall brawny specimen of 
 humanity, who looked as if he could take 
 two men in his arms and crush them. 
 
 At the same time Gunstock was over 
 six feet high and could turn the scale at 
 thirteen stone, while Simpson had been 
 in the Life Guards before he became a 
 policeman, so that they were each a 
 match for the Kussian. 
 
 Yet they were only two to seven, not 
 counting the women, who in fights were 
 able to tire shots as well as the men. 
 
 Striding forward like an athlete, 
 Golos exclaimed — 
 
 " What for you want this girl ? " 
 
 "Stand back," cried Simpson, "or by 
 heaven ! I'll shoot you through the 
 heart." 
 
 Golos retreated a few paces. 
 
 He knew the law of the land, and did 
 not want to be hunted down for murder 
 if he could avoid it, still he was very 
 loath to part with Effie. 
 
 " Speak," he replied. " I will listen." 
 
 " Kight. Here," exclaimed Simpson, 
 " I have fifty men. One whistle from 
 me will bring them uponyou." 
 
 Golos assumed a penitent air at 
 hearing this. 
 
 " We have not offended against the 
 law," he replied. " Of what are we 
 accused ? Cannot the poor gipsy live in 
 his tent on the barren heath, without 
 being hunted as if he was a wolf?" 
 
 " With you I have nothing to do. 
 
 " Which member of my tribe has 
 transgressed the law ? " 
 
 "My business," said Simpson, " ia 
 simply with this young lady. Years 
 ago you came from Tartary or Bohemia, 
 or wherever you belong, to England, and 
 you stole this child — at least, she was a 
 child then." 
 
 " It is a lie ! " cried Golos, angrily. 
 " She is my daughter." 
 
 He extended his arms towards Effie. 
 
 " Come, my darling," he said, " to 
 one who loves you." 
 
 She shrank hack from him. 
 
 '■ No ! no ! I — I have heard something 
 of this before," she exclaimed ; " let the 
 gentleman talk." 
 
 " My girl," continued Simpson, " you 
 are the daughter of a gentleman living 
 in the castle. Will you come with me 
 to his arms, or will you remain with 
 these Russian gipsies, and be a tramp 
 — a nameless tramp — all your life ? " 
 
 "They have been Idnd to me," she 
 replied. 
 
 " Kind ! Who wouldn't be kind to 
 you, my child ? Of course they would 
 be kind to you, but the first duty you 
 t)we is to your father. He wants you. 
 These people stole you — they are 
 thieves." 
 
 "All gipsies are," cried Gunstock, 
 savagely, 
 
 " Hush, my friend," continued Simp- 
 son. "We will not abuse them. If 
 they will let the girl go quietly they 
 shall not be molested by me or my men." 
 
 Golos drew himself up proudly. 
 
 " Some of us," he said, " are Tartars, 
 some are Bohemians, but I would have 
 you know that we have better blood in 
 our veins than anyone in England. 
 What matters it if we do not live in 
 houses ? We prefer tents. Are not the 
 children of the woods as good as the 
 dwellers in houses ? Let the girl alone, 
 and we will not harm you." 
 
 Simpson put his arm rffund Effie's 
 waist. 
 
 " She is my prisoner," he exclaimed. 
 " Touch her who dare." 
 
 The gipsies made threatening gestures, 
 but they were afraid to fire, lest they 
 should injure Effie. 
 
 " Cover me," continued Simpson. 
 " Shoot the first man who moves." 
 
 Gunstock put himself behind the 
 police-officer, who began to retreat, 
 Effie making no effort to escape from 
 her captor. 
 
138 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 Golos made a dash towards Gunstock, 
 who presented his breech-loader at his 
 breast. 
 
 " Back ! " he cried ; " one step further 
 and you die." 
 
 The gipsy hesitated a little while and 
 then turned to his men. 
 
 " To your tents," he said ; " it is our 
 fate to lose her." 
 
 With bowed head he walked away, 
 and Simpson, with Gunstock, took Effie 
 towards the high road. 
 
 "That's all right," remarked Gunstock. 
 " I was fearful we should have a hard 
 time with those fellows." 
 
 " My threat about my men in ambush 
 frightened Golos," replied Simpson. 
 " But he has some deep design in view. 
 I saw it in his face." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " He was afraid to fight us then, but 
 he will attempt a rescue. Timor is in 
 love with this girl, and the gipsies are 
 keeping her for him. If they let her 
 go, they will dread the vengeance of 
 Ivan, who is Timor's uncle." 
 
 " Perhaps you are right ; all I know 
 is, I would have rendered a good account 
 of some of them had they fired on us. 
 I had got Golos in my eye. He was 
 as dead as that buck we shot just 
 now." 
 
 Simpson felt a heavy weight on his 
 arm. 
 
 " WTiy the girl has fainted," he said. 
 " Never mind, I'll carry her into Ascot, 
 and we can get a conveyance there to 
 Windsor." 
 
 He handed his gun to the keeper, 
 and carried little Effie as if she had 
 been a child, until they could get a 
 carriage. 
 
 She came to herself when they arrived 
 at the hotel, and as Simpson talked to 
 her she became reconciled to the 
 situation, though she could not help 
 
 feeling miserable, for the gipsies were 
 her fi-iends, and although she was going 
 to meet her father, she was going 
 amongst strangers. 
 
 Instead of making any resistance, she 
 passively allowed herself to be put in 
 the carriage and driven to Windsor. 
 
 " Take me to my father," she sobbed, 
 " and be good to me. I am very help- 
 less. If you are doing me any wrong, 
 heaven forgive you." 
 
 They comforted her as best they 
 could, and at last they came to the 
 castle, where they at once took her to 
 ]Mr. Vavasour's apartments. 
 
 The old gentleman was seated in his 
 drawing-room, with his face buried in 
 his hands, thinking of the darling he 
 feared he should never see more. 
 
 Simpson went in first, leaving Effie 
 outside with Gunstock. 
 
 " Mr. Vavasour," exclaimed he, " don't 
 be agitated. I have news for you." 
 
 The old gentleman rose up trembling. 
 
 " My darling ! " he cried. " Where is 
 she ? " 
 
 " I have found her." 
 
 " Thank heaven ! " said Mr. Vavasour, 
 piously Ufting his eyes and his hands to 
 heaven. " Bring her in here. I can 
 bear it. I have nerved myself for this 
 day, if it should ever come." 
 
 Hearing this, Simpson brought the 
 daughter to the father, and they were 
 soon clasped in a firm embrace. 
 
 " My child — my child ! " he exclaimed, 
 caressing her fondly. 
 
 Gunstock and Simpson withdrew. 
 
 Friends of Mr. Vavasour's, hearing the 
 glad tidings, came in. 
 
 Effie foimd herself surrounded by new 
 acquaintances, who vied with each other 
 in being kind to her. 
 
 Ere she retired to rest that night she 
 knew the happiness of having a parent 
 to care for her. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 LOST AGAIN. 
 
 Eton was greatly excited. 
 
 It was the day of the annual football 
 match between collegians and oppidans, 
 and Jack had the honour of playing on 
 the side of the oppidans. 
 
 Owing to his size and skill, he was 
 made side post, or half-back, as some 
 schools call it, and rendered great 
 assistance to his side, carrying everything 
 before him, and kicking a goal, so that 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 eventually the oppidans won by one 
 goal to nothing. 
 
 ^^^len the game was over, there were 
 loud cheers for Dashley. 
 
 " Hurrah ! Three cheers for Dashley. 
 Hip, hip Halloa ! " cried Owen. 
 
 He was in the act of throwing his 
 hat in the air, when he stumbled up 
 against somebody, who pushed him 
 away, causing him to utter the latter 
 exclamation. 
 
 Looking up, he saw Timor. 
 
 " You little disguster ! " cried Timor. 
 " Get out of my way." 
 
 " What ! are you back again ? " asked 
 Owen. 
 
 " Yes ; and you'd better behave your- 
 self." 
 
 " I don't like a friend of thieves, 
 gipsies, and forgers," replied Owen. 
 
 "Don't you? Perhaps you dislike 
 that equally ? " 
 
 As he spoke, Timor struck Owen a 
 blow in the face, which caused him to 
 fall up against Hardy, the new boy with 
 the red hair. 
 
 Hardy, staggering in his turn, ex- 
 claimed loudly — 
 
 " Cheese it there." 
 
 " I couldn't help it," exclaimed Owen, 
 as he picked himself up. 
 
 " You nearly knock the wind out of a 
 fellow, and then say ' you couldn't help 
 it.' Hear me smile. If it wasn't your 
 fault, whose was it ? " 
 
 " That big Russian brute's," said 
 Owen. 
 
 He pointed to Timor, who was stand- 
 ing close by with his hands in his 
 pockets. 
 
 " He knocked you against me, eh ? " 
 
 " That's about the size of it." 
 
 " Then 111 have to take it out of 
 him." 
 
 " What for ? " asked Timor surprised. 
 
 " Oh, I don't allow anyone to take 
 liberties with me," said Hardy, shaking 
 his red head. " I'm a peculiar sort of a 
 fellow that way." 
 
 "Are you?" Timor replied, with a 
 sneer. 
 
 " If you are at all sceptical on the 
 point, you can bet on it, and lose every 
 time." 
 
 " I never fight with vegetables." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " I can't punch carrots." 
 
 " Oh, can't you ? It's a pity about 
 
 you. But carrots can punch you. Look 
 out for your nut, old fellow." 
 
 Saying this, he struck Timor in the 
 eye, knocked off his hat, and caused the 
 proud aggressive Russian to roll up 
 against Spankey, the cake man. 
 
 The shock made Spankey roll over. 
 
 His tin can full of luxuries, in the 
 shape of pastry, was upset. 
 
 To the credit of the boys, be it said, 
 none scrambled for the contents. 
 
 Eton boys were too proud to do any- 
 thing of that sort. 
 
 If they wanted tarts, ciikes, or buns, 
 they could either pay for them, get 
 credit, or go without. 
 
 " Tarts, cakes, and buns," Spankey was 
 in the act of saying. 
 
 " Blow your buns ! " cried Hardy. 
 
 " Pay me for the damage, sir." 
 
 " Ask the Russian bear," said Owen. 
 
 Timor got up from the recumbent 
 position which the blow had compelled 
 him to occupy, and taking a handful of 
 sovereigns from his pocket, carelessly 
 threw one of them towards him. 
 
 " Thank you, sir. You are a gentle- 
 man, Mr. Timor, sir," cried Spankey. 
 
 He was delighted. 
 
 This handsome present had paid him 
 five times over for his " tarts, cakes, and 
 buns." 
 
 " Mind it isn't a duffer," said Owen. 
 
 " A — excuse me, sfr, did I understand 
 you to say a — a duffer ? " 
 
 " He's in the forgery line." 
 
 "Ah, hem! yes; I did hear something 
 about that," replied Spankey. "But," 
 he added, biting the coin, "this is guinea 
 gold. I'll take it." 
 
 Timor grew furious, and in spite of his 
 self-possession, his rage was only too 
 apparent as he stalked up to Owen. 
 
 " Say that again ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " I said it once. Isn't that enough for 
 you ? " replied Owen Tudor. 
 
 "I'm back again in the house," con- 
 tinued Timor, " and if you chaff me, I'll 
 make your life a misery and a burden to 
 you." 
 " Will you, indeed ? " 
 
 Hardy interposed. 
 
 " I've got something to say to that," 
 he remarked. "Just get out of here, 
 unless you want to put your arm in a 
 sling." 
 
 Timor glared angrily at him and 
 walked away, seeing that he was no 
 
140 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON 
 
 match for Hardy, whose arms were like 
 iron. 
 
 At the same time he made a mental 
 note of the occurrence, and was Hardy's 
 sworn enemy from that time forth. 
 
 Jack had spied Owen in the crowd of 
 lookers-on. 
 
 He came up to him wet with perspira- 
 tion and covered with mud. 
 
 Owen had shouted himself hoarse, 
 backing up Jack and the oppidans. 
 
 " Well played, Jack, old boy," cried 
 Owen. " You won the game, dear old 
 fellow." 
 
 " Oh, no," said Jack. "I did my little 
 best, that was all." 
 
 "But you kicked the only goal. It 
 was one to nothing. The 'tugs,' '" — name 
 for the collegians — "got not even a 
 touch. I call it a splendid game." 
 
 " You were having a little fun on your 
 own account, weren't you ? " 
 
 " Nothing much. Timor's back again." 
 
 '• Never ! " 
 
 " He is though." 
 
 " I'm not surprised. What did he do ?" 
 
 "Propped me in the eye because I 
 cheeked him. Hardy, however, settled 
 him, and he did not dare to taclde 
 him." 
 
 Jack held out his hand to Hardy. 
 
 "Let me thank you for helping my 
 friend," he said. 
 
 " Hear me smile," replied Hardy. " I'd 
 do it any time, any day in the week, if I 
 saw a fellow being bullied." 
 
 " You'll have your hands fiiU at this 
 school if those are your principles." 
 
 " Shall I ? They're big enough," 
 answered Hardy, exhibiting his fists, 
 which were red and hard and large, like 
 small mangel vrarzels. 
 
 " You are a good sort." 
 
 " I was always so considered." 
 
 The boys in the field were kicking 
 about the ball now the match was over, 
 and the ball, being kicked at random, 
 happened to strike Hardy on the side of 
 the head. 
 
 Bang ! 
 
 It made a hollow noise, as if it had 
 struck the head of a dnma. 
 
 " By Jove ! " cried Hardy. " Somebody 
 planted that beautifully for me." 
 
 He picked up the ball and looked 
 around. 
 
 Timor was standing a little way ofiF 
 grinning at him in a pleased manner. 
 
 "Look at that monkey. I'll bet he 
 did it," continued Hardy. 
 
 Dropping the ball, he kicked it in his 
 direction, but though it was well directed 
 it did not strike the person it was in- 
 tended for. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Soda was passing by, 
 he having been to see the match, and 
 the football caught him full in the 
 face. 
 
 " Knocked him off his pins," cried 
 Owen, dehghtedly. 
 
 Jack clapped his hands. 
 
 " Bravo ! Well stopped, sir. B. and S. 
 can do it," he exclaimed. 
 
 3Ir. Soda lost his hat and his footing 
 at the same time. 
 
 He spun about like a teetotum, then 
 he fell prone on the ground and groaned 
 dismally. 
 
 " Mercury ! Mcrcm-y ! " he exclaimed 
 loudly. 
 
 Jack ran fonvard and picked up the 
 professor, whose face was covered with 
 mud. 
 
 Owen gave him his hat, and the boys 
 sympathised generally with him. 
 
 " Hope you are not hurt, sir," he 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " Slightly confused, that's all. Where's 
 the boy Mercury ? "' asked ^Ir. Soda. 
 
 " Who's he ? ■' 
 
 " Quicksilver. ^lercury is quicksilver, 
 and we have changed his name. That 
 boy's been awful since his father was 
 shot." 
 
 " In what way ? " 
 
 " I've cut all the trees down in my 
 garden, and since then he's always sitting 
 up on a clothes prop. You can't keep 
 him on solid ground." 
 
 ";\Iercury on a clothes prop! That 
 would be a new idea for a sculptor," sug- 
 gested Owen. 
 
 iNIr. Soda wiped his face and felt better, 
 but he occasionally shook his head as il 
 he wasn't sure it was quite safe on his 
 shoulders. 
 
 " Have you heard the news ? " he 
 inquired. 
 
 " Not a word," replied Jack. 
 
 "iMi\ Vavasour has got back his 
 daughter." 
 
 " Little Effie ? " said Jack. 
 
 " Yes. I heard it in Windsor this 
 morning." 
 
 Jack made a bound in the air. 
 
 "Bravo ! " he said. " That just counter- 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 141 
 
 balances the bad news. I've been told 
 that Timor's come back to the school. 
 That I don't like; but I'll cut up to 
 Windsor this afternoon and see my 
 darling." 
 
 His foce reflected the feeling of his 
 heart, which throbbed with pleasure 
 when he thought of Effie, and seeing 
 her happy in the position to which she 
 belonged. 
 
 There was no place in the field of an 
 elevated kind where Quicksilver could 
 climb up, and he had as usual been 
 miserable on his feet. 
 
 At the conclusion of the match, he 
 felt like jumping up somewhere. 
 
 Funnybird JNlinor, who was very tall 
 and thin, passed between him and Owen 
 Tudor. I\jiowing that, with his long 
 legs, he could run faster than Owen, he 
 determined to chafif him. 
 
 " Ma — a — a ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 "That's Funnybird," cried Owen. 
 " I'll give him what for." 
 
 "Ma— a — a! You Welsh goat! Ma 
 — a — a ! " 
 
 At this moment Quicksilver jumped 
 on his back and put his arms round 
 him. 
 
 Jubt at the same time Owen started 
 to run after Funnybird and lick him if 
 he could catch him. 
 
 With Quicksilver on his back, Funny- 
 burd Minor was heavily handicapped. 
 
 It was, in racecourse parlance, "carry- 
 ing weight for age." 
 
 "Hold on, old fellow," cried Owen. 
 " I'll warm you." 
 
 Running after him, he succeeded ia 
 catching up with him, when he began to 
 Icick him. 
 
 Away ran Funnybird amidst the 
 laughter of the boys ; kick followed kick 
 until at last he laid down on the grass, 
 rolling over and over. 
 
 Quicksilver extricated himself, although 
 in the confusion he received more than 
 one of the kicks, which he had not 
 bargained for. 
 
 " You little wretch," cried Funnybu'd, 
 shaking his fist at him. " You'll jump 
 on my back again, will you ? " 
 
 "I saved you a few kicks," replied 
 Quicksilver. 
 
 " If it hadn't been for you I should 
 not have had any at all." 
 
 He rubbed his trousers as if it were a 
 pleasure, but when Owen Tudor made a 
 
 movement towards him he started off at 
 his best pace. 
 
 " That settles him," said Jack. " By 
 Jove, this is becoming quite a fighting 
 school." 
 
 "Boys will be boys," observed Mr. 
 Soda. 
 
 " They can't very well be girls, sir." 
 
 "Humph, that is an axiom which I 
 cannot dispute. What are the words of 
 the poet ? — ' Oh, once in childhood's 
 hour I sat within a happy bower. All 
 my books neglected were, as I thought 
 upon the fickle fair.' " 
 
 Jack and Quicksilver went off together, 
 walking up by the banks of the brook 
 called Chalvey, towards the gasworks. 
 
 " Well, Quicksey," exclaimed Jack, 
 " I haven't seen you since the affair at 
 the old house." 
 
 " Don't talk about it, Master Jack," 
 replied Quicksilver, the tears starting to 
 his eyes. 
 
 " I will not, my poor fellow. I only 
 mentioned it because I wanted to thank 
 you for the share you had in getting me 
 out of the cellar, when Timor intended 
 I should die. You lost a father, but you 
 have always a fi-iend in me. As Mr. Soda, 
 old S. and B., your master, would say, 
 what are the words of the poet ? " — 
 
 " Alas, there's a time when dejection 
 
 Would reap the wild words of despair." 
 
 " I've got no one but you now, sir," 
 replied Quicksilver. "Dad wasn't much, 
 but a father's a father after all." 
 
 Jack thought that BiU Silver was 
 better dead than in gaol, but he did not 
 say so, for he was fearful of hurting the 
 boy's feehngs. 
 
 They parted at the gasworks, Jack 
 promising to see him soon at Mr. Soda's, 
 and Quicksilver immediately climbed up 
 to the top of the gas-house, as if to 
 relieve his overladen heart. 
 
 WTien Jack returned to the house he 
 had just time enough to change his 
 j ersey and have his bath, when the dinner- 
 bell rang. 
 
 Timor sat down at the table without 
 moving a muscle of his face. 
 
 Everybody stared at him, and this 
 attention he seemed to take as a com' 
 pliment. 
 
 The general opinion was that the 
 house was going to the dogs, for several 
 things had leaked out about his con- 
 nection with the gipsies, and many ol 
 
142 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETO:i ; 
 
 the boys did not think him a fit com- 
 panion for them. 
 
 Funnybird Major, however, received 
 him with open arms ; they messed to- 
 gether again, and in a few days the boys 
 ceased to talk about him. 
 
 In the afternoon Jack, ha\'ing an hour 
 to spare, ran up the town to visit Mr. 
 Vavasour, whom he found walking on 
 the terrace of the castle with his 
 daughter. 
 
 That she was his daughter he was 
 perfectly satisfied, because he had found 
 on her the birthmark by which he could 
 always know her. 
 
 Directly she saw Jack she ran up and 
 threw her arms round his neck. 
 
 " Oh, Jack of Eton ! " she cried. 
 
 "My dear little EflSe," he replied. 
 " May I have a kiss ? " 
 
 " As many as you like," she said, pre- 
 senting her rosy cheek. 
 
 He kissed her afifectionately, and then 
 he shook hands with her father. 
 
 " I must congratulate you," said Jack, 
 "at having recovered your daughter, 
 sir." 
 
 " And I think," answered Mr. Vavas- 
 our, " that I may congratulate you on 
 having found a sweetheart, eh ? " 
 
 " Yes, I think Effie cares for me as 
 much as I know I care for her. Do you 
 miss your old friends, the gipsies ? " 
 
 " They were very kind to me," replied 
 Effie. "I have lived with them all my 
 life, and I cannot help missing them, 
 though I am very glad to be with papa. 
 All this life is new to me. I do not 
 know myself yet. After being a gipsy 
 girl it is hard to be a lady." 
 
 She laughed lightly. 
 
 " I feel," she added, " that I want to 
 go into the kitchen and cook things. If 
 I walk in the park and see a rabbit, I 
 want to throw a stick at it, but papa 
 says I must learn French and music and 
 be a lady." 
 
 " You can sing, Effie ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes, the gipsies have taught me 
 that. Many a night in England, 
 Bohemia, Spain, Russia, wherever I 
 have been, we have sang while Ivan 
 played on the guitar." 
 
 " Ivan has gone away," said Jack. 
 
 "Yes, I heard that ; but he is pardoned 
 by the Tsar, and can go back to Eussia." 
 
 *' Indeed ! Do you know where Timor 
 is?" 
 
 " I do not. Timor I am afraid of. I 
 hate Timor. He is merciless and cruel. 
 Ivan is much better than he." 
 
 " Timor is back again at Eton," Jack 
 replied. 
 
 Effie shivered as if in fear. 
 
 " Then there is no safety for me, for 
 Timor has sworn that I shall be his 
 wife." 
 
 Jack flushed angrily. 
 
 " Never while I live," he said. 
 
 " Oh, but he is a dreadful young man ; 
 he has powerful friends and does not 
 care what he does. Papa, let us go away 
 from here." 
 
 " Why, my dear ? " 
 
 " Because Timor is at Eton." 
 
 " He cannot harm my child," said Sir. 
 Vavasour, putting his arm round her in 
 a reassuring manner. 
 
 " But he will try." 
 
 " Let him. I am your father and he 
 dare not touch you." 
 
 jNIr. Vavasour spoke confidently, yet 
 his words had not the effect of reassur- 
 ing Effie, who was in great dread of 
 Timor. 
 
 Jack had to get back to college for 
 five o'clock school, and he could not stay 
 long, so he promised to come after 
 twelve the next day and take her for a 
 walk. 
 
 They kissed each other at parting. 
 
 " Good-bye, Jack of Eton," said Effie. 
 " Beware of Timor." 
 
 " I will," he answered. " All the 
 harm he can do me will not amount to 
 much." 
 
 Effie shook her head as if she did not 
 quite believe this, and Jack hurried 
 away, thinking that she looked more 
 lovely than he had ever seen her before. 
 
 His heart was completely gone. 
 
 When he reached the school yard he 
 met Bill Bragg, who had a letter in his 
 hand. 
 
 " I say, Dashley, here's a queer start ! " 
 he exclaimed. 
 
 " \Miat is it ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " You know I was at a private school 
 before I came here ? " 
 
 "So you informed me once before. 
 Are you proud of the distinction ? " 
 
 " Oh, hang it, no. I like a public 
 school best, and Eton is the best of all of 
 them. But I was at Milton College, 
 where that strange fellow Hardy came 
 from. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 143 
 
 " Yon mean William Rufus ? " 
 
 ♦'Call him carrots or what you like ; 
 I'm alluding to the man with the red 
 hair. He's slap-bang and all alive, for 
 he takes his own part," said Bragg. 
 " But I can't forgive him that prop he 
 gave me in the eye." 
 
 " Why not ? " 
 
 "Oh, it's not me to forget a favour 
 of that kind. If I can't hit back in the 
 daylight I'll kick in the dark." 
 
 "« Well ? " 
 
 " I heard him say he'd been at Milton, 
 so I wrote to some of the old boys there 
 and inquired about a chap called Hardy. 
 Here is an answer, Hardy was expelled 
 from the school for theft." 
 
 " Nonsense." 
 
 " It's a fact. Read the letter which 
 is written by one of the monitors. All 
 straight — fact. Slap-bang, and all alive." 
 
 Jack was greatly disgusted. 
 
 He had begun to like Hardy for his 
 independence and pluck ; but when he 
 heard that a boy named Hardy had been 
 gent away from Milton for stealing, he 
 could not help thinking that another 
 black sheep had crept into the flock. 
 
 " By Jove ! " he ■ remarked, " this is 
 too bad. My tutor takes in anybody." 
 
 " But perhaps he did not know." 
 
 "He ought to inquire. Our house 
 will get a bad name. How about 
 Timor ? " 
 
 " Oh, he's a walking mystery. He 
 does all sorts of funny things, and yet 
 all the upper boys are thick with him 
 again ; but I say. Jack, talking about 
 thieves, I missed a set of gold studs this 
 morning." 
 
 " Did you really ? " 
 
 " Slap-bang, and all alive. They were 
 given me by the Sultan of Turkey when 
 he was over here." 
 
 " Draw it mild." 
 
 " Fact, I assure you. Wouldn't have 
 lost them for anything." 
 
 The masters now came into school, 
 and the conversation between the boys 
 was interrupted, as they belonged to 
 different divisions, and had to go in 
 difi"erent directions. 
 
 Any httle matter of scandal soon gets 
 about in a school. 
 
 Bragg told half-a-dozen intimate 
 friends about the letter he had received 
 respecting Hardy, and that evening it 
 was currently reported that he was a 
 
 thief, that he had forged his father's 
 name, and that he had killed another 
 boy at his last school, and buried him in 
 the playground. 
 
 Hardy wondered why he was stared 
 at and treated coldly by those he had 
 regarded as his friends. 
 
 He could not understand the change 
 of treatment, but he asked no questions, 
 keeping himself to himself and doing 
 his work. 
 
 Timor however heard the damaging 
 rumour, and purposely pushed up against 
 him in the passage. 
 
 " What did you do that for ? " asked 
 Hardy, his eyes glancing. 
 
 " Keep your own side," answered 
 Timor, " and don't push me." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " Because I don't choose to be jostled 
 by a thief." 
 
 There were several boys standing 
 about, and they all crowded around to 
 see the fun. 
 
 "If report speaks truly, you are no 
 better than you should be," replied 
 Hardy. 
 
 " No one can prove anything against 
 me," said Timor. " Dashley has told a 
 pack of lies about me, but no one 
 believes him. As for you, it is well 
 known that you left your last school for 
 stealing." 
 
 " Prove it," cried Hardy. 
 
 Timor beckoned to Bill Bragg, who 
 was standing in the crowd. 
 
 "Come here," he said. "I have 
 called this fellow what he is. Speak to 
 him." 
 
 " Do you know Prior ? " asked Bragg. 
 
 " Certainly ; he is senior monitor at 
 Milton," replied Hardy. 
 
 " Read this letter." 
 
 Hardy took the tell-tale letter, and 
 read it carefully. 
 
 Then he handed it back, with a deep 
 sigh ; all his animation was gone. 
 
 " What have you to say to that ? " 
 demanded Timor, triumphantly. 
 
 " Nothing," replied Hardy. 
 
 The boys looked astonished, for they 
 had at least expected an indignant 
 denial. 
 
 " You admit the charge ? " 
 
 " I say nothing, except that Prior is 
 mistaken. I am innocent. Place what 
 construction you like on the letter." 
 
 " Why did you leave the school ? " 
 
144 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON | 
 
 "I bad my reasons." 
 
 An angry murmur rose from the boys, 
 and cries of " thief, thief ! " arose, which 
 only stopped when Jack and Owen came 
 out of their rooms. 
 
 " What's the row ? " he asked. 
 
 " This fellow is not a fit companion 
 for gentlemen," replied Timor, whose 
 impudence knew no bounds. 
 
 " This from you," cried Jack. " You 
 vile Russian scoundrel, get into your 
 room, or I'll knock some of the cheek 
 out of you. It's a pretty thing indeed 
 when you begin to talk about gentle- 
 men." 
 
 " I will explain all to Dashley," said 
 Hardy, " and if he is satisfied with my 
 explanation, I hope you all will be, 
 though what I say to him must be kept 
 a secret." 
 
 The boys assented to this, as they had 
 full faith in Jack. 
 
 Timor and Bill Bragg were the only 
 exceptions, and they hissed loudly as 
 Jack and Hardy retired into the former's 
 room. 
 
 The boys waited outside in the pas- 
 sage while Jack Dashley and Hardy were 
 shut in the room together. 
 
 What transpired between the two they 
 could not tell. 
 
 The consultation was not a lengthy 
 one. 
 
 Nevertheless Timor took advantage of 
 the opportunity to say something spite- 
 ful to tlie boys about Hardy, whom he 
 hated almost as much as he did Dashley. 
 
 " 1 say, you fellows," he exclaimed, 
 "Hardy's a pet of Dashley's, and he'll 
 stuff us up with a pack of nonsense." 
 
 " That's what I think," said Bragg. 
 
 " Here's Bragg of my way of think- 
 ing." 
 
 " Entirely." 
 
 " There's no nonsense about Bragg." 
 
 " Not much," replied that individual, 
 feeling himself highly honoured. " I'm 
 straight forward. Slap-bang, and all 
 alive." 
 
 "Bragg's a good fellow," continued 
 Timor, who wished to make a friend of 
 him. 
 
 " That's me to a T." 
 
 "I don't want to flatter him, but I 
 have always found him genuine." 
 
 " You do your humble servant proud," 
 said Bragg, " The same compUmeut 
 was paid me by the lord mayor last time 
 
 he dined with my father. He remarked 
 — ' That's a fine lad of yours Mr. Bragg. 
 He's made of sterling metal, and will 
 shine in the world.' " 
 
 " Did he ? " 
 
 " Fact, I assure you. SLip-bang, and 
 all alive." 
 
 " That lord mayor must have been a 
 man of discernment," rejoined Timor. 
 " Now, what I say, boys, is this. Bragg 
 has heard from the school where Hardy 
 was, and we are told that he was expelled 
 for theft." 
 
 " Yes, yes," chorussed the boys. 
 
 " If so he is no companion for us." 
 
 "Timor's right." 
 
 " We ought to send him to Coventry, 
 and I vote we do." 
 
 " Agreed." 
 
 " Dashley is as bad as he if he takes 
 his part." 
 
 There was a genei'al assent to thi.^ 
 proposition, and Timor would have made 
 further remarks had not the door opened 
 and the two boys appeared. 
 
 Hardy was looking very pale, but Jacl:, 
 on the contrary, seemed quite pleased. 
 
 " What is the result of your delibera- 
 tions may I ask ? " exclaimed Timor. 
 
 " It's all right," repUed Jack. 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? " 
 
 " Hardy has explained everything to 
 my entire satisfaction. He is au honour- 
 able man, and content at present to 
 remain under a cloud." 
 
 Timor laughed contemptuously. 
 
 His sneer found an echo amongst the 
 boys, who were at that moment incUned 
 to follow his leadership. 
 
 "That's all very well for you," said 
 Timor ; " but it won't do for us." 
 
 " I give you my word," answered 
 Jack. 
 
 " I won't take it." 
 
 " What, do 3'ou dare to insult me ? " 
 
 " I simply say what I mean and mean 
 what I say. All the boys are with 
 me." 
 
 .Tack looked angrily at Timor, hut 
 I did not know what to do under the cir- 
 I cumstances, which were very embarrass- 
 I ing. 
 1 He turned his eyes upon Hardy. 
 
 " I think you ought to say some- 
 I thing," he observed. 
 j " With pleasure," replied Hardy. 
 
 " Well," cried Timor, roughly, " let us 
 hear what you have got to say." 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON 
 
 No. 10. 
 
 i 
 
OR, THE ADVEMUttKS OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 "Dashley has been told everything, 
 but I have bound him to secrecy." 
 " Why ? " 
 
 " I ara not at liberty to speak at 
 present." 
 
 A smile of incredulity came upon every 
 face on hearing this declaration. 
 " That's too thin," said Timor. 
 «Eh?" 
 
 " It won't wash. You will be sent to 
 Coventry, and the best thing you can do 
 is to write home and ask your peoi)le to 
 take you away from the school." 
 " I don't see it." 
 
 "You are not s fit associate for 
 us." 
 
 "How about yourself? " asked Jack. 
 " I am a Russian nobleman," Timor 
 replied, " and infinitely superior to such 
 trash as you. But let that pass. I can 
 take my place by the side of the tsar 
 of the greatest counti-y in the world." 
 
 " Bother you and your tsar. I want 
 to do justice to a cruelly abused and 
 calumniated fellow." 
 
 " Then all I can tell you is that we 
 won't associate with Hardy. Isn't that 
 so, boys ? " said Timor. 
 
 " It is, it is ! " was the general answer. 
 Jack looked at Owen Tudor and 
 Bragg. 
 
 " Are you too against Hardy ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 "Well," replied Owen, "things look 
 very black against him. ^^^ly don't he 
 speak out ? " 
 " He can't." 
 
 " It would be better for him." 
 " Owen, you are my chum, and you 
 ought to take my word," said Jack, 
 reproachfully. 
 
 " So I do, dear boy, but " 
 
 " Oh, hang your ' buts.' " 
 " I've nothing more to say," replied 
 (^wen. " Be Hardy's champion if you 
 lil;e. I say I won't." 
 " Why is that ? " 
 
 "Because Bragg says he has lost a 
 set of studs. I have missed a half- 
 sovereign out of my bureau, and 
 suspicion naturally points to Hardy 
 after the character we have received of 
 him from his last school." 
 
 This remark was received with general 
 approbation. 
 
 " Send him to Coventry," cried half- 
 a-dozen voices. 
 
 This meant that no one would speak 
 
 to him, and it was a severe punislmicnt 
 among boj's. 
 
 " All right," said Hardy, " I can put 
 up with it. You will find out your mis- 
 take some day and be sorry for it." 
 
 " We are Eton boys, and do not want 
 to be disgraced," replied Timor, im- 
 periously. 
 
 "Well, I like that," laughed Jack. 
 "Perhaps you will like a punch on 
 the head when I give it you." 
 " When you do." 
 
 Timor was afraid of Jack, and although 
 he wanted to keep up his reputation 
 with the other boys, he wanted to avoid 
 a fight if possible. 
 
 " We will talk about that to-morrow," 
 he said. 
 
 " You Eussian bully ! all you can do 
 is to boast," cried Jack. " You know I'd 
 lick you within an inch of your life if 
 you began with me." 
 
 Hardy interposed mildly. 
 " Please don't fight on my account," 
 he said. " I am content to suffer because 
 I am innocent." 
 
 " I know you are," replied Jack. 
 " Well, look here," exclaimed Timor, 
 " I have a proposition to make." 
 " Out with it," replied Hardy. 
 " Have you got any money or jewel- 
 lery in your bureau ? " 
 " No, I have not." 
 
 " Will you object to our searching 
 your room ? " 
 
 Hardy shrugged his shoulders. 
 " It is not a pleasant thing to have 
 done," he rejoined ; " but if you wish to 
 play the part of a Eussian spy, you are 
 at liberty to search. The result wiU 
 satisfy you, I hope." 
 
 " By Jove ! I hope it will," replied 
 Timor, with a malignant flash in his 
 eyes. 
 
 Saying this, Timor led the way to 
 Hardy's room, where the lamp was burn- 
 ing on the table, and Hardy handed him 
 the keys of his bureau. 
 
 ^\'llen it was unlocked and opened, 
 Timor drew out a drawer, in which was 
 a set of gold studs and half-a-sovereign. 
 " Holloa ! " he exclaimed. 
 " 'SMiat is it ? " asked Jack. 
 "Look for yourself. I think this is 
 rather conclusive evidence of this man 
 being the thief I alleged him to be." 
 
 Hardy became as white as a sheet, 
 and leant against a chair for support. 
 
148 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON J 
 
 " It's a foul slander ! " he said. 
 
 " Rubbish ! Haven't I found the 
 things in your bureau ? " 
 
 " I am the \'ictim of a base conspiracy, 
 and I believe you are at the bottom of 
 it." 
 
 " You mean to say you did not steal 
 the things." 
 
 " I do, most emphatically and dis- 
 tinctly'." 
 
 "You didn't do it at your last school, 
 eh?" 
 
 " No, you Russian liar ! " retorted 
 Hardy. "I'm a new boy here, and I 
 happened to offend you, that's why you 
 persecute me." 
 
 Jack pressed his way to the front. 
 
 " It seems to me very odd," he re- 
 marked, " that you should propose to 
 search the room, and directly put yoiur 
 hand upon the drawer in which the 
 things were." 
 
 " What do you mean to insinuate ? " 
 Timor asked, 
 
 " Just this. You stole them yourself, 
 and put them there to injure Hardy, 
 whom we all know you dislike." 
 
 " Absurd I You cannot get your pal 
 off iu that way," sneered Timor. "Boys, 
 what do you think ? " 
 
 " He's guilty ! " replied several. 
 
 " Those nve mj' studs, I'll swear, slap- 
 bang, and all alive. Fork them out ! " 
 fir.id Bill Bragg. 
 
 They were handed to him, and he 
 looked at them affectionately. 
 
 "I'm glad to get them back," he 
 remarked, " because they were a present 
 from the Queen to my father." 
 
 " Get out with your humbug ! " said 
 Timor. 
 
 " jM^' father met the Queen down in 
 Scotland — they were both driving. The 
 roadway narrowed, and her most gracious 
 JMajesty said — 'Pull on one side, please.'" 
 
 " How about the studs ? " 
 
 " Well, my father asked the Queen to 
 be my godmother. She was full of 
 engagements at the time, and couldn't 
 do it, so she sent the studs as a mark of 
 respect, and I have valued them since 
 because of the honour Her Majesty did 
 the family." 
 
 " Oh, my ! Can't you tell crammers ? " 
 laughed Timor. 
 
 " I'm insulted, and by a Russian bear, 
 too," replied Bragg. " It's a hard world 
 to live in. I'm the most truthful man 
 
 that ever lived, and yet I can't get fellows 
 to believe my yams." 
 
 Hardy waved his hand. 
 
 •' My room is my own, and I'll thank 
 all you fellows to clear out," he 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " That's right," said Jack, " and if 
 they don't go jolly quick. 111 help you 
 to get thorn out. I think we can floor 
 a few of them." 
 
 There was a rush towards the door. 
 
 At this moment, the boys' maid who 
 attended on the boys in that passage 
 ajjpeared. 
 
 '• Good gracious me, what's the 
 matter ? " she asked. 
 
 " Timor says that I have stolen some 
 studs, and some money which have been 
 found in my bureau, but which I never 
 put there," repUed Hardy. 
 
 " It's a curious thing," said the woman, 
 " but I saw Mr. Timor in your room this 
 morning, after twelve o'clock school." 
 
 " Did you, indeed ! " 
 
 " Yes ; he was unlocking your bureau 
 with a key, and I thought you had sent 
 him for a book, or lent him one." 
 
 HaVdy looked at the boys. 
 
 " ^^'llat do you think now ? " he 
 exclaimed. "Susan wouldn't tell an 
 untruth." 
 
 The boys made no answer, for they 
 were puzzled sorely. 
 
 " No, sir, that I wouldn't ! " cried 
 Susan, indignantly. " I'm a respectable 
 woman, with a ten years' character in 
 this one place. It's a fact that I saw 
 INIr. Timor at your bureau, and I'll swear 
 to it in a court of justice, if need be." 
 
 " Nonsense ! " exclaimed Timor, with 
 an affected laugh. " You've been bribed 
 to say this." 
 
 '•' I haven't. It's false." 
 
 " And I deny that I was in the room 
 
 at all. It's all trumped-up rubbish. 
 
 My word is as good as Susan's, and I 
 
 i leave the boys to think what they Uke." 
 
 Saying this, Timor walked off non- 
 
 I chalantly with his hands in his pockets, 
 
 I and the boj's formed themselves into two 
 
 di\isions, the Timorites and the Hardy- 
 
 ites, being about equally divided. 
 
 It was an unpleasant affair, which 
 kept them busy discussing it until 
 supper. 
 
 A number of the Timorites carefully 
 sent Hardy to Coventry, and would not 
 speak to him. 
 
OH, THE ADVKNTUKES OK TWO COLLEGE CHUJIS. 
 
 149 
 
 Owen Tudor, Jack, and Ifardy were 
 all in the latter's room when the bell 
 rang for supper. 
 
 " I don't want any," remarked Hardy. 
 '* I feel too much worried to eat." 
 
 " Your innocence will be proved some 
 day," replied Jack, encouragingly. 
 
 "It's hard to bear though all the 
 same." 
 
 Bill Bragg and Funny bird Minor 
 passed the door and looked in. 
 
 " Come inside," exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " Thank you, no." 
 
 "\\Tiy not?" 
 
 " I don't like the company you keep," 
 taid Bragg, looking askance at Hardy. 
 
 " Capital," cried Funnybird. 
 
 " What do you want to shove your oar 
 in for ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " One's a beastly cad who bags money 
 and things, while the other's a "Welsh 
 goat. Ba — a! ba — a!" 
 
 Both Owen and Hardy made a rush 
 for him, but Funnybird Minor had long 
 legs and knew how to use them. 
 
 The progress of the pursuers was 
 impeded by Bill Bragg's form, against 
 which Hardy cannoned, sending him 
 sprawling. 
 
 " Here, I say, turn it up," cried Bragg. 
 " I'm not a human football." 
 
 " B»g pardon. It was an accident." 
 
 " Oh, well, if you apologise, I won't 
 say anything more. Slap-bang, and all 
 alive, you know," said Bragg, rubbing 
 his arm. 
 
 Owen Tudor succeeded in catching 
 Funnybii-d at the top of the stairs, 
 whereupon dismal yells were immediately 
 heard, showing that he was getting a 
 licking. 
 
 " Leave off, you big bully," observed 
 Funnybird. 
 
 " What did you call me a goat 
 for ? " 
 
 " So you are. Ma- —a. — a — oh ! my 
 
 shin. You are a Welsh brute to shin a 
 fellow." 
 
 " I'll goat you I " 
 
 At length Funnybird wriggled himself 
 away, and went half crying down to 
 supper, vowing he would tell his brother. 
 
 The next day Jack Dashley had a 
 " saying lesson," as repetition is called 
 at Eton. 
 
 It was sixty lines of Homer ; he was 
 put on early, got through it all right, 
 and strolled into the school-yard. 
 
 He was sm-prised to see ]Mr, Vavasour 
 standing near the fives court under the 
 chapel walls, and looking very disconso- 
 late. 
 
 " Oh, Dashley," cried Mr. Vavasour 
 in a voice which was weak and tremulous, 
 " I was seeking you." 
 
 " Indeed, sir." 
 
 " I have been to yom- tutor's, and not 
 finding you there, I thought I would 
 wait until you came out of school." 
 
 " Is anything wrong ? " asked Jack, 
 who felt his heart go pit-a-pat. 
 
 " Something is very wrong." 
 
 " "What ? Don't keep me in suspense." 
 
 " You must try and bear it," answered 
 JMr. Vavasoui-. " Our little Effie is lost 
 again." 
 
 " Gone ? " gasped Jack. 
 
 " Yes," 
 
 " "V\Tiither ? " 
 
 " No one knows." 
 
 Jack sat down on the cold steps of the 
 fives court, and hung his head down as 
 if in the most acute distress. 
 
 " Excuse me," he said, " This is, in 
 the language of the P, E., a regular 
 body blow ; you have knocked me off my 
 centre. I feel anyhow," 
 
 ]\Ir, Vavasour regarded him with 
 compassion, for he knew how fond Jack 
 was of his little daughter Effie. 
 
 For a brief space neither of them 
 spoke. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 hardy's secret. 
 
 After a time Jack recovered Irom the 
 shock which the announcement had 
 caused him. 
 
 " Tell me all, please, sir," he said, 
 " I will, my dear young fi-iend ; but 
 
 believe me, this blow is as severe for me 
 as for you," replied Mr, Vavasour, 
 
 " That I am sure of, but you know 
 that I loved her as a sister, and hoped, 
 when I grew up, that she might and 
 
150 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF Jai 
 
 would be something dearer to me. She 
 was rny little sweetheart, and if the 
 liiissians have got hold of her we may 
 never see her again." 
 
 " I must tell you that we were walking 
 in Windsor Park yesterday afternoon, 
 and I, feeling tired, went into Gunstock's 
 cottage to sit down and rest myself." 
 
 " Yes ? " 
 
 " Kffie was gathering ferns, and 
 promised to join me in a few minutes. 
 Gunstock was not at home. All at once 
 I heard a shriek and rushed out, only to 
 behold Effie in the arms of a man who 
 carried her swiftly away. Old and feeble 
 as I am, I could not overtake them ; and 
 even had I done so I should have been 
 no match for the ruffian who had 
 captured her." 
 
 " \Miat was the result ? " 
 
 " She disapj^eared from my gaze. I 
 fell forward in a fit. When I recovered, 
 all trace of her was lost. I returned to 
 the castle, and have had the doctor with 
 me all night. He's forbade me going 
 out, but I could not rest until I had seen 
 you ; so here I am. And now what is 
 best to be done ? My poor head is in a 
 whirl. I can think of nothing." 
 
 Jack was as much perplexed as Mr. 
 Vavasoui-. 
 
 "Have you seen Simpson ?" he in- 
 quired. 
 
 " I sent a message to the chief of the 
 police as soon as I got home last night ; 
 but I heard this morning from him that 
 the gipsies had left Ascot Heath, and 
 no one knew in what direction they had 
 travelled." 
 
 " WTiat was the man like who stole 
 Effie ? " 
 
 " I did not see his face, but he was 
 strong and tall." 
 
 " It is the gipsy king," said Jack. 
 " By Jove ! it is a bad job. I can't see 
 my way clear at all." 
 
 Suddenly JNlr. Vavasour staggered, 
 and, pressing his hand to his heart, 
 leant against the wall, his face becoming 
 pale as death. 
 
 Jack was alarmed, 
 
 " Are you ill, sir ? " he asked in great 
 concern. 
 
 " A passing faintness," was the reply. 
 " I shall be better presently." 
 
 Jack saw one of the college doctors 
 going towards the cloisters, and thought 
 it would be a good thing to call him. 
 
 " There is Doctor Ellison," he said. 
 
 " I do not want him." 
 
 " Perhaps I'd better give him a hail." 
 
 Jack determined to act on his own 
 responsibility, for he did not like the 
 look of the old gentleman at all. 
 
 He ran across the school-yard and 
 overtook the doctor in the cloisters near 
 the pump. 
 
 " Please, sir, stop a moment ! " he 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " Ah, Dashley, how do you do ? " 
 answered the doctor. 
 
 He had attended Jack in the sana- 
 torium, and remembered him very well. 
 
 " Do you know Mr. Vavasour, sir ? " 
 asked Jack. 
 
 " Perfectly weU. I am his physician. 
 ■\\Taat's the matter with him ? " 
 
 " He is in the school-yard, and looks 
 so bad he frightens me." 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 " His little daughter was stolen l»y a 
 gipsy last night, and he's all broken up. 
 Will you come and see him ? " 
 
 " Certainly. I was going to see one 
 of the Fellows, Mr. Dupuy, and after 
 that one of the tugs, as you oppidans 
 call them, who is laid up with bronchitis, 
 in Long Chamber, but I'll let them wait." 
 
 " Thank you, sir." 
 
 Dr. Ellison accompanied Jack to the 
 fives court, and asked Mr. Vavasour to 
 let him feel his pulse, which he did." 
 
 "\Miile he was asking a few questions, 
 Owen Tudor came up, holding a yellow 
 envelope in his hand, marked " Im- 
 mediate." 
 
 " A telegram for you, Jack," he said. 
 
 " For me ? Nothing wrong at home, 
 I hope," rejoined Jack. 
 
 "I got through my saying lesson, and 
 went into the passage to look at the 
 letters. Seeing this, I thought I would 
 bring it to you, as it might be impor- 
 tant." 
 
 Jack hastily tore open the envelope, 
 and read — 
 
 " Lord Warden Hotel, Dover. 
 
 " From Effie to Dashley, 
 
 " Eton College. 
 8 o'clock. 
 
 "Dear Jack of Etox, — Ivan has 
 carried me oflf. We are going to Russia. 
 He says I am to be Timor's wife. You 
 will find me at St. Petersburg. Do 
 come, if you do not want me to die. 
 Ivan is asleep. We are waiting for the 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 151 
 
 boat. I have bribed a servant to send 
 this. Ivan's valet is watching me. 
 Heaven bless you, dear Jack of Eton. 
 " Ever your loving 
 
 " Effie." 
 
 " Hang that fellow Ivan ! " cried Jack, 
 angrily. 
 
 " ^^^lat is it ? " asked IMr. Vavasour, 
 faintly. 
 
 Jack handed him the telegram, which 
 he read with difficulty. 
 
 " The ^•illain ! My child is lost to me 
 for ever ! " he ejaculated, spasmodically. 
 
 " I hope not, sir." 
 
 Mr. Vavasour placed his hand to his 
 heart again, as he had done a few 
 minutes before, breathed with difficulty, 
 and fell back, with glazed eyes, and a 
 rattle in his throat. 
 
 " G-ood heaven ! this is dreadful," said 
 Dr. Ellison. 
 
 " Is he bad ? " inquired Jack. 
 
 " He is dying, that's all. It's a case 
 of angina pectoris. Bless me, who 
 would have expected this ? " 
 
 Jack clinched his fists. 
 
 " The Russian scoundrels ! " he ex- 
 claimed. " That's one more to the score 
 I owe them." 
 
 He hoped some day to be able to pay 
 ofiF this score. 
 
 At present the contingency was very 
 remote, for he could do nothing to Timor, 
 though no doubt the latter was well 
 aware of what his uncle Ivan intended 
 to do. 
 
 There was sure to be an understanding 
 between them. 
 
 In a few minutes all was over. 
 
 Mr. Vavasour breathed his last, and 
 was stretched out a corpse, greatly to 
 the pain of all those who knew him. 
 
 Dr. EUison had the body carried up 
 the steps to the side door of the chapel, 
 and placed inside, until he could give 
 orders for its removal. 
 
 Jack and Owen Tudor returned to 
 their tutor's to breakfast, talking in 
 whispers, and as much frightened as they 
 well could be. 
 
 In the evening they had to go with 
 the rest of the fourth form to the pupil 
 room to construe a certain lesson, so that 
 they should be perfect when they went 
 into school in the morning. 
 
 Jack, Tudor, Bragg, and Funnybird, 
 together with Hardy, were among the 
 others, occupying themselves in trans- 
 
 lating the pure Latin of Virgil into 
 indifierent schoolboy English, being 
 assisted by their tutor, Mr. Dryasdust, 
 in the better understanding of the same. 
 
 While this was going on a peculiar 
 scratching was heard at the window. 
 
 It was repeated several times. 
 
 " Dear me ! what on earth is that 
 irritating sound ? " exclaimed Mr. Dry- 
 
 " Dashley's monkey, sir," replied 
 Funnybird Minor. 
 
 " I was not aware that he had one, 
 and I shall certainly not allow him to 
 keep one." 
 
 " Please, sir, it's a story," cried Jack. 
 
 " Is it ? " said Funnybird. " You've 
 got a boy always after you as much like 
 a monkey as he can be." 
 
 " Who is that ? " 
 
 " The fellow you call Quicksilver." 
 
 " Why, that's Mr. Soda's page. You 
 know jNIr. Benjamin Soda, sir." 
 
 "Most decidedly I do. Stop, your 
 quarrelling, you two. Bless me, there 
 is that pecuUar sound again. What can 
 it be ? " exclaimed Mr. Dryasdust. 
 
 He looked anxiously towards the 
 window. 
 
 "Shall I go out in the garden and 
 see ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Lift up the comer of the blind and 
 peep fii-st. It cannot be a cat." 
 
 " Perhaps it's a lost dog." 
 
 " He couldn't get on the window- 
 sUi." 
 
 " INIaybe it's a ghost." 
 
 These and other remarks emanated 
 from the boys, while Jack went to the 
 window, and, lifting up the edge of the 
 blind, peered into the comparative dark- 
 ness without. 
 
 Everyone was intensely interested, and 
 wonder was excited to the highest pitch. 
 
 It was a little mild excitement for the 
 boys, more especially as they were con- 
 struing. 
 
 The crescent moon had just risen and 
 was casting its silvery gleam on shurb 
 and tree. Jack saw a human form run 
 away from the window and hide behind 
 a tree hard by. 
 
 " It's alive, sir," he ci'iei.1. 
 
 « What ? " 
 
 " I saw it move." 
 
 "But what is it, you stupid boy?" 
 demanded Mr. Dryasdust ; " quadruped, 
 biped, or winged creature ? " 
 
152 
 
 TEE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETONj 
 
 " It's a good-sized boy, or I'm mis- 
 taken." 
 
 " In my garden." 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " What can he wan't there ? It's my 
 opinion that he's after no good at this 
 time of night. Who will voluriteer to 
 catch him." 
 
 " I," replied Jack. 
 
 " And I, too," replied Owen Tudor. 
 
 " Go out at the side door, and be care- 
 ful you come to no harm," said Mr. 
 Dryasdust. 
 
 The two chums immediately passed 
 through the pupil-room into the library, 
 when the private door was opened, and 
 shooting back the bolt, rushed into the 
 garden. 
 
 " Which way ? " asked Owen. 
 
 " Follow me," replied Jack. 
 
 He made straight for the tree behind 
 which he had seen the mysterious 
 intruder ensconce himself. 
 
 All at once someone darted out, com- 
 mencing to run. 
 
 " Chiwey him ! " cried Jack. " Tally- 
 ho ! off we go ! stole *iway ! Yoicks ! " 
 
 It was as good as a foxhunt. 
 
 In spite of all his cflorts to escape, the 
 fellow, who was about five feet iu height, 
 and presumably sixteen or seventeen 
 years of age, was run dovm in fifty yards. 
 
 Jack pounced on him, as the eagle on 
 to the lamb, and dealing him a blow 
 under the ear, brought him to the 
 ground. 
 
 "Don't hurt me, please," said the 
 young man. 
 
 "Who ai-e you? " 
 
 " A poor devil who's got no home." 
 
 " What do you want in our garden ? " 
 
 " Only to see someone living in your 
 house," was the reply in the mildest of 
 tones. 
 
 Evidently he was not of the dangerous 
 class of burglar. | 
 
 " I looked in at the window," he con- | 
 tinned, "and scratched, thinking he 
 would come out." 
 
 " It's one of the boys, then, you wish 
 to see ? " inquired Jack." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " WTio is it ? " 
 
 " I mustn't tell. Please let me go. I 
 shall see him to-morrow. The fact is, I 
 shouldn't have come to-night if I hadn't 
 
 been so hungry, and — and It's all a 
 
 secret." 
 
 " Perhaps I understand it," said Jack. 
 " Let me whisper to you." 
 
 He put his head close to the young 
 man's ear, and whispered something to 
 him in a low tone which Owen Tudor 
 could not hear. 
 
 " Am I right ? " he said aloud. 
 
 " Yes, yes," was the rejoinder. 
 
 " You can go." 
 
 " Oh, thank you." 
 
 " I was going to take you inside. Cut 
 along. Make haste ; I see lights com- 
 ing." 
 
 It was true. 
 
 Mr. Dr3'asdust had taken a lamp in 
 his hand, and, followed by the remainder 
 of the class, had sallied forth into the 
 garden, accompanied by them as by a 
 body guard. 
 
 " Eun, run ! " exclaimed Jack, kindly. 
 
 Owen Tudor looked on in surprise, but 
 he did not like to interfere, because he 
 knew that his chum must have a good 
 and sufiBcient reason for letting the boy 
 depart. 
 
 The latter seemed very weak and ill. 
 
 He was poorly dressed, what clothes ho 
 had being in rags, and he appeared more 
 an object of charity than one to be 
 selected for punishment, 
 
 " I — I don't think I can run," stam- 
 mered the poor boy. 
 
 " They'll catch you if you don't." 
 
 " My head is going round. I've 
 had n-nothing to eat, I am sorry to say, 
 for the last twenty-four hours, and that 
 punch on the head you gave me seems 
 to have knocked me silly." 
 
 " That's a pity. 'What are we to do ? " 
 said Jack. 
 
 '' Let me take my chance." 
 
 There was nothing else for it, as Mr. 
 Dryasdust came up, lamp in hand, and 
 seized him by the collar. 
 
 '' You vagabond ! " he exclaimed. 
 " Don't be vicious, don't attempt to bite 
 or kick. It will be the worse for you." 
 
 " I shan't do either, sir," was the reply. 
 
 " Come into the house quietly. I will 
 examine you." 
 
 The intruder suffered himself to be 
 led along quietly enough, and Mr. Dry- 
 asdust flattered himself he had made aa 
 important and gallant capture, which 
 would greatly redound to his credit as a 
 man and a master. 
 
 Pushing him into the pupil-room, in 
 the full glare of the gas, he said^ 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 153 
 
 " Stand there." 
 
 Hardy was sitting in the shadow at 
 the far end of the room, but it seemed 
 as if a flash of recognition passed between 
 the newcomer and himself. 
 
 "Now, then, give an account of your- 
 self," continued Mr. Dryasdust. 
 
 The boy sank on a form, and covering 
 his face with his hands, burst into tears. 
 
 " I wish I was dead, I do," he sobbed. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust looked at him in a 
 curious manner. 
 
 " Really this is very extraordinary," 
 he remai-ked. " I cannot make him out. 
 There doesn't seem to be any vice about 
 him." 
 
 Hardy rose and stepped forward, pale 
 as a statue. 
 
 "AMow me to explain the mystery, 
 sir," he said, " since fate has willed that 
 it must be so." 
 
 " Yoj, Hardy ? " 
 
 *'yes, sir. This is my elder brother." 
 
 At this declaration everyone in the 
 room was greatly astonished, because it 
 was so totally unexpected. 
 
 " I have been much misunderstood," 
 added Hardy, " since I have been in this 
 house. It has been said that I was a 
 thiefi that I was expelled from MDton 
 School. It is not my wish to publish 
 my unfortunate brother's disgrace, but 
 I was never at Milton. This is the first 
 school I have been to. It was my brother 
 William who was sent away for taking 
 another boy's money. Being miserable 
 at home he ran away, intending to go to 
 sea. His funds could not take him 
 further than Windsor, where he has, for 
 a week or two past, been subsisting on 
 what little money I could give him. He 
 must have come here to-night to try 
 and see me, as I have not given him 
 anything for two days." 
 
 William Hardy, the outcast, the tramp, 
 looked up, his eyes filled with tears. 
 
 " It's all true," he said. 
 
 Mr. Dryasdust was much affected at 
 this revelation. 
 
 Several of the boys crowded round 
 Hardy and shook him by the hand, 
 
 apologising for ever having suspected 
 him. 
 
 " Misguided boy," exclaimed the 
 master, "why did you leave your kind 
 friends ? " 
 
 "Father and mother were always 
 reproaching me, and I couldn't stand it. 
 My brother has behaved like a brick to 
 me ; I will say that. He gave me his 
 clothes to pledge to buy food." 
 
 " Very sad." 
 
 " Don't send me from your door to- 
 night, sir," pleaded William Hardy. "I 
 am very ill — indeed I am. To-morrow 
 I will see if my father will have me 
 back ; and if they will send me to sea 
 I'll make a fresh start." 
 
 "Kealiy, I don't know what to do. 
 By your own confession you are not a fit 
 companion for my boys." 
 
 " I'm so friendless, sir."' 
 
 " Well, my butler shall take you up 
 town and have you provided for at my 
 expense; and meanwhile I will com- 
 municate with your parents, who I dare- 
 say are not so hard-hearted as you seem 
 to imagine," responded Mr. Dryasdust. 
 
 He rang the bell, and gave instructions 
 to his servant, who took William Hardy 
 away after he had shaken hands with his 
 brother. 
 
 " See that he has plenty to eat out of 
 my own larder," added Mr. Dryasdust. 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Now, gentlemen," Mr. Dryasdust 
 went on with a benevolent smile, " this 
 little excitement being over, we will pro- 
 ceed with our construing ; but I may be 
 pardoned for saying that Hardy is a fine 
 fellow, and that we are all proud of 
 him." 
 
 This sentiment was received with 
 acclamation by all. 
 
 AMien the news reached the fifth and 
 sixth form, it was heard with a feeling of 
 relief, for a strong prejudice had sprung 
 up against Hardy on account of the 
 rumours which had been circulated 
 respecting him. 
 
 Timor kept in his room and said 
 nothing. 
 
154 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 THE RUSSIAN 
 
 It was drawing towards the end of the 
 half, but though the weather was cold it 
 was still favourable for football. 
 
 One of the great house matches was 
 that between the U2)per and lower elevens 
 of ]\Ir. Dryasdust's, and a large concourse 
 of spectators usuall v assembled to witness 
 it. 
 
 Jack Dashley was recognised as a 
 splendid player. 
 
 So was Timor. 
 
 The Russian excelled in physical force, 
 and particularly delighted in football, 
 because it gave him a capital opportunity 
 of kicking other people's shins. 
 
 He did not care a bit where the ball 
 was ; if he could see a leg, he looked 
 upon it as lawful prey, and kicked accord- 
 ingly- 
 
 He was in Funnybird Major's room 
 the morning of the match, and they were 
 discussing the chances of the first eleven 
 winning it. 
 
 " It will never do to let a lower boy 
 eleven beat us," remarked Funnybird. 
 
 " They can't do it," replied Timor. 
 
 " Still, they have a very strong team. 
 Look at Dashley, and that new fellow 
 Hardy. He can dribble a ball better 
 than I can." 
 
 "See me take them both off their 
 legs," said Timor savagely. " I'll hock 
 them so badly that they won't be able to 
 play." 
 
 " ISIind they don't do it to you." 
 
 " They don't know how, my dear boy. 
 I'll disable them early in the match, and 
 we will win in a canter." 
 
 Funnybird thought that Timor was a 
 little over-confident, but he did not like 
 to say so, because he knew it oifended 
 him deeply to have his vanity hurt. 
 
 " I hear you are going to leave at the 
 end of this half ? " he observed. 
 
 " Yes. My father is going back to 
 Russia and wants me with him. I have 
 learnt all that it is necessary for me to 
 learn at Eton." 
 
 " How jolly for you. I suppose you 
 will be a great swell in your own 
 country." 
 
 " A prince. My father is allied to the 
 
 royal blood, and we are awfully rich. I 
 shall enjoy myself, I can tell you," 
 answered Timor. 
 
 " You might give a fellow an invita- 
 tion." 
 
 " If you come out there I will treat 
 you well, for I know how to reward my 
 friends and punish my enemies. Don't 
 I wish I could get Dashley over there ! " 
 
 " Wliat would you do to him ? " 
 
 " He should never come back again, 
 that is one sure thing," repUed Timor 
 vindictively. 
 
 Funnybird looked in his face, and saw 
 that he meant what he said. 
 
 " By George ! I should not like to 
 have you for an enemy," he remarked. 
 " That is if I was ever to go to Russia." 
 
 Timor smiled. 
 
 The football match was to take place 
 in the afternoon, it being a half-holiday. 
 
 After dinner the boys went to the 
 " Timbrells," as the field is called, clad 
 in their jerseys and caps, all eager for 
 the fray. 
 
 Bragg came up to Jack, and re- 
 marked — 
 
 " We shall have all our work cut out 
 for us." 
 
 " I know it," replied Jack, who was in 
 superb condition. 
 
 " You had better look out." 
 
 «'\\Tiy?" 
 
 " I heard Timor talking to Funnybird 
 JIajor, and he said he was going to cool 
 shin you whenever he meets you. Fact. 
 Slap-bang and all alive." 
 
 "I'll give the Russian tyrant as good 
 as he sends, no fear." 
 
 The two sides took up their position, 
 and the game began, being started in a 
 glorious manner by Jack, who took the 
 ball away from everybody, and, dodging 
 the goal-keeper, very neatly kicked the 
 first goal in less than ten minutes. 
 
 This made Timor very savage. 
 
 When the game rec6mmenced, he 
 deliberately went in front of Jack who 
 was running after the ball in fine style, 
 and " charged " him. 
 
 It was not a fair thing to do, and Jack, 
 not liking the kick on the shin with 
 
OK, THE ADVENTURES OK TWO COLLEGE CUUMS. 
 
 155 
 
 which Timor favoured hita, returned it 
 with interest. 
 
 A regular kicking match ensued 
 between them. 
 
 They were both so out of breath that 
 they could iiot talk, but suddenly Timor 
 fell to the ground, and uttered a groan. 
 
 " Man hurt ! " shouted Jack. 
 
 Owen Tudor had just kicked the ball 
 out of bounds, and everybody rushed up 
 to see what was the matter. 
 
 Timor was evidently in great pain. 
 
 Collington and Fuunybird lifted him 
 up. 
 
 " Can you walk ? " asked the captain 
 of the school. 
 
 "No," replied Timor. "I believe 
 Dashley has broken my leg." 
 
 " You shinned me first," replied Jack. 
 
 " Is that true ? " 
 
 " I heard him say he meant to do it," 
 remarked Bragg. 
 
 " Do what ? " 
 
 " Shin Dashley whenever he met him, 
 ball or no ball in sight. Fact. Slap- 
 bang and all alive." 
 
 " Oh, take me home, I am iq such 
 pain," said Timor. 
 
 Fo\ir big fellows with difficulty mana- 
 ged to carry him back to his tutor's, and 
 there he was laid on his bed, while the 
 doctor was sent for. 
 
 " I hope I haven't seriously injured 
 him," said Jack to the boys who were in 
 his room. 
 
 " Serves him right," replied Owen. 
 
 " I don't feel much sympathy for him," 
 remarked Hardy. 
 
 Dr. Ellison arrived in half-an-hour, 
 examined the broken limb and set it, 
 during which operation Timor's groans 
 were audible a long way off. He could 
 not bear pain well. 
 
 As the doctor quitted the room. Jack 
 stopped him. 
 
 " Can I have a word with you, doctor ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 " Be quick. I want to see Mr. 
 Dryasdust. This is a very bad case of 
 Timor's," replied Dr. Ellison. 
 
 " Is he so much hurt ? " 
 
 " He's got a compound fracture of 
 the leg, and will never walk straight 
 again." 
 
 " Never ? " 
 
 " He'll be lopsided to the end of his 
 life. I never saw a leg so badly broken. 
 Who kicked him ? " 
 
 " I did." 
 
 •' You must kick like a horse, Dashley. 
 It's very unfortunate. Poor fellow! so 
 young, too ; but I suppose these accidents 
 cannot be avoided if boys will play foot- 
 
 ball. I 
 
 iber. 
 
 a year ago, young 
 
 Eobartes, the banker's son, was lamed 
 for life in the same way. You knew 
 him. He boarded at Evan's. It was in 
 a match with your house, too. JNIy word, 
 you are hard kickers." 
 
 " It wasn't my fault, doctor." 
 
 "Perhaps not. I didn't say it was, 
 but Timor will recollect you to his dying 
 day," answered the doctor. 
 
 He was right, for Timor remained in 
 bed for some weeks, and when he got 
 up he walked with a crutch, and was 
 helplessly lame. 
 
 One leg was shorter than the other. 
 
 His father sent for him to come up to 
 London as soon as he was well enough 
 to get about and be moved. 
 
 Jack met him in his tutor's yard 
 going to one of Wise's flies which was in 
 waiting for him. 
 
 Wishing to be kind and generous, he 
 extended his hand. 
 
 "Good-bye," he exclaimed. "I am 
 sorry for this — very sorry." 
 
 Timor leant against the wall, and 
 raised his crutch threateningly. 
 
 " Curse you ! " he screamed. " Get 
 out of my way." 
 
 " Won't you say good-bye ? " 
 
 " Not to you, you hound ! you English 
 brute. You — you " 
 
 His vocabularly was exhausted, and 
 he could not think of any more abusive 
 epithets to hurl at his enemy. 
 
 "All right." 
 
 "My turn will come. I feel it — I 
 know it," continued Timor, recovering 
 himself. 
 
 " Don't be too sure of that." 
 
 " Oh," said Timor, clenching his fists, 
 " if I only had you in Kussia, you should 
 rot in a dungeon, and I'd flog the flesh 
 off your bones daily." 
 
 " Would you ? " 
 
 " I swear it." 
 
 " Kind of you, certainly," laughed 
 Jack, as he turned away. 
 
 Timor got into the carriage and was 
 driven ofi' to the railway station gnashing 
 his teeth. 
 
 Thus did the baffled Eussian leave 
 Eton for good and all. 
 
156 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON : 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 STARTING IN LIFE, 
 
 It was the last day of the half. 
 
 The boys did not sing dulce domum. 
 
 They went up town to buy the smartest 
 ties they could get, for the fifth and 
 sixth forms were glad to get rid of the 
 white ones they were comijelled to wear, 
 and the lower boys were sick of their 
 eternal black ones. 
 
 "I say, Owen," exclaimed Jack, "my 
 father has written to me to ask if 
 you will spend Christmas week with 
 
 UB." 
 
 " Has he really ? — that is awfully 
 good of him." 
 
 " You see I have mentioned you as 
 my chum so often in my letters, that 
 my people take quite an interest in you, 
 and I should like you to know me at 
 home." 
 
 "I daresay my respected parents 
 would spare me." 
 
 " Will you come for a day or two, and 
 telegraph ? " 
 
 " Yes, I don't mind doing that," 
 answered Owen. 
 
 So they took leave of Mr. Dryasdust, 
 Uttle thinking they were never to see 
 him or the dear old college spires they 
 loved so much again. 
 
 Timor had taken leave in the usual 
 manner. He had, according to custom, 
 presented the head master with a ten- 
 pound note, and his tutor with five 
 pounds. 
 
 He had received lots of leaving books, 
 and all was en icgle. 
 
 Nobody knew that Jack and Owen 
 were not to come back again. But so it 
 was. 
 
 ]\Ir. Dashley had lost a quantity of 
 money in a bankrupt concern in which 
 he had invested. 
 
 He could not afford to keep Jack any 
 longer at an expensive school such as 
 Eton is. 
 
 Board and tuition came to one hun- 
 dred and forty pounds a year. 
 
 Books, clothes and spending money 
 amounted to nearly as much more, and 
 the strain on his reduced resources could 
 not be borne. 
 
 Accordingly he had to look out for 
 
 something for Jack to do; and he decided 
 to put him in a commercial house, and 
 place him in the way of becoming a rich 
 trader. 
 
 It was not until Christmas was over 
 that he unfolded his scheme to Jack, 
 who, with Owen, was sitting in the 
 dining-room of his Ixindon house after 
 dinner. 
 
 " Jack, my boy, I cannot afford to send 
 you back to Eton," he exclaimed. 
 
 " Why, father, I shall be captain of the 
 boats in two years," repUed Jack, 
 
 "Can't help it. I have lost a lot 
 of money. You must go into busi- 
 ness." 
 
 Jack looked blankly at his father. 
 " \\'Tiat business am I fit for ? " he 
 demanded. 
 
 " You will have to learn one. I am 
 in treaty with a large London and 
 Russian house, Krackop, Kine and Co." 
 " What line are they in ? " 
 " Jute, hemp, yam and wool." 
 " Well, this is a break-up and a come- 
 down," said Jack, " but I'll do anything 
 you wish, father, for I'm not above 
 earning my li\'iiig in any decent man- 
 ner." 
 
 " That's well said, Jack," 
 " Still I should like to have stayed at 
 Eton and been captain of the boats." 
 
 " Never mind. It can't be helped ; 
 misfortunes will occur in the best 
 regulated families; and I'm sure you 
 will be anxious to take any burden or 
 responsibihty off my shoulders." 
 " Certainly." 
 
 "I shall give you a good start in 
 life ; all the rest depends upon your- 
 self." 
 
 " And shall I have to go to Russia ? " 
 " In a month's time," replied Mr. 
 Dashley, 
 
 Owen Tudor had listened attentively 
 to this conversation, 
 
 " I don't want to be separated from 
 Jack, sir," he exclaimed, "Do you 
 think you could get me something to 
 do in the same house ? " 
 
 " In Krackop, Kine and Co's ? " 
 "Yes, sir," 
 
TUE ADVKMiUKtS ol- TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 157 
 
 "I have no doubt I could with a little 
 trouble. You will, both of you, have to 
 learn Kussian at once." 
 
 " Is it a diflScult language ? " 
 
 " Not very." 
 
 " I'll soon pick it up," said Jack. 
 
 " And I," cried Owen, sanguiuely. 
 
 " Bravo, lads ; you've got the right 
 stufl" in you," exclaimed Mr. Dashley. 
 
 • • • • 
 
 Owen Tudor obtained his father's 
 consent to accompany Jack to Russia. 
 
 In a month's time they started for 
 St. Petersburg. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 T I M R'S REVENGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 THE CHIEF OF THE POLICE. 
 
 It was winter in St. Petersburg. 
 
 Also it was the height of the season. 
 
 A grand mansion on the Nevsky 
 Prospect was hghted up from top to 
 bottom, and it was evident that a party 
 was in preparation. 
 
 A drosky drove up, and a man, dressed 
 in furs, sprang out. 
 
 " Wait ! " he said simply. 
 
 The driver saluted him in military 
 fashion, and the man in furs, which were 
 rich and costly, rang the bell loudly. 
 
 He was instantly admitted. 
 
 " Is the Duke of Cronstadt within ? " 
 asked the stranger. 
 
 "He is in the reception-room, sir," 
 replied the domestic. " Who shall I 
 have the honour to announce ? " 
 
 The stranger handed him a card on 
 which was wi-itten the name — 
 
 " Osman." 
 
 " Will you have the kindness to wait, 
 sir, while I see my master ? " 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 The domestic crossed the hall, entered 
 a room, and was absent a few minutes, 
 when he returned. 
 
 " Follow me, if you please," he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 Osman was conducted into the recep- 
 tion-room, which was "full of guests. 
 
 A band discoursed sweet music from 
 another apartment, and dancing was 
 going on, while a buzz of conversation 
 arose on either side. 
 
 The ilite of Russian society was col- 
 lected that night in the house of the 
 Duke of Cronstadt. i 
 
 A prince of blood royal — the blood of | 
 
 the house of Romanoff — was expected to 
 grace the party with his presence. 
 
 A dark, swarthy man was standing at 
 the entrance to the room, and to him 
 Osman offered his hand. 
 
 " Ah, Osman ! " he exclaimed. " Is it 
 you ? " 
 
 " Yes, Ivan," was the reply. 
 
 " Hush ! In England I was known as 
 Ivan, when I lived with the gipsies. 
 Now I am myself again." 
 
 " The emperor has pardoned you ? " 
 
 "Precisely. He has given me back 
 my title and estates. I am the Duke of 
 Cronstadt, with an income of five milUons 
 of roubles a-year. Never will I con- 
 spire against him again. Alexander is a 
 noble monarch, and deser\'es the respect 
 of all his subjects." 
 
 "Amen to that," replied Osman. 
 "Come with me into a private room, 
 there I can talk to you alone." 
 
 " Have you news for me then ? " 
 
 " What do you and the chief of the 
 police pay me for ? " asked Osman. 
 
 " That is true." 
 
 Ivan, who a few months before was a 
 gipsy, Uving in a tent ia whatever 
 neighbourhood the tribe he had attached 
 himself to chose to settle — whether it 
 was Ascot Heath or Wandsworth Common 
 — was now the favourite of the Emperor 
 of Russia, restored to his title and estate, 
 and, in fact, one of the grandees of 
 St. Petersburg. 
 
 Apologising to those who stood round 
 him, he led the way into a private 
 cabinet. 
 
 Osman was a short, thick-set man, 
 
158 
 
 TUE SCUUOLDAYS Uh JACK Ai LI O.N ; 
 
 with dark eyes and hair, the eyes having 
 a ferrety appearance, and he was generally 
 snake-like in his manner. 
 
 He was nothing more nor less than a 
 police spy. 
 
 Bom in Turkey, he had been brought 
 up in Kussia, and when Ivan was dis- 
 graced on account of a conspiracy in 
 which he was mixed up, he and Ivan had 
 fled to England. 
 
 They joined the gipsies and led a hard 
 life, until the emperor pardoned them, 
 and they were able to return to their 
 native country. 
 
 "Now," exclaimed Ivan, Duke of 
 Cronstadt, shutting the door of the 
 cabinet, " what have you to say ? " 
 
 " They are here," replied Osman. 
 
 " To whom do you allude ? " 
 
 " Your enemies." 
 
 " I have none. Am I not the friend 
 of the emperor ? Who dares to be my 
 enemy ? " 
 
 " Have you forgotten the Eton boys 
 — Jack Dashley and Owen Tudor— who 
 were so much trouble to Timor ? " 
 
 Ivan stamped his foot angrily on the 
 floor. 
 
 " I know who you mean," he said ; 
 " but what are they doing in St. Peters- 
 burg ? " 
 
 " You told me to look after them, and 
 I found out that they have been a week 
 in this city." 
 
 " As what ? " 
 
 *'As commercial clerks, engaged in 
 the great house of Krackop, Kine, and 
 Co." 
 
 " Confound it ! cried Ivan. " I would 
 give half my fortune if they were not 
 here. Timor, whose title, as you know, 
 is Prince of Moscow, is expected from 
 Livadia to-morrow, and will want to 
 make love to Effie." 
 
 The spy smiled. 
 
 " The lady Effie is under your pro- 
 tection," he said. " ^^^^at have you to 
 fear from the English dogs ? " 
 
 " She loves Jack of Eton and hates 
 Timor," 
 
 Osman, the spy, reflected a moment. 
 
 "Is his Excellency Irkontok, the chief 
 of the police, here to-night ? " he asked. 
 
 "Yes. He is preparing for the re- 
 ception of His Majesty the Emperor, 
 who has condescended to honour me 
 with his presence to-night," rejjlied Ivan. 
 
 " You are in high favour, my lord." 
 
 " It is time I was, for his majesty has 
 frowned upon me long enough. But 
 why did you allude to Irkontok ? " 
 
 " Shall I call him in ? His advice 
 may be of use to us in this emergency." 
 
 " By all means do so." 
 
 Osman left the cabinet, while Ivan 
 paced the floor impatiently. 
 
 The presence of Jack Dashley and 
 Owen Tudor in St. Petersburg troubled 
 him sorely, for it threatened to interfere 
 with his plans. 
 
 He had adopted Efl5e Vavasour as his 
 daughter, and she was to be introduced 
 to the emperor that evening as the 
 affianced bride of Timor, Prince of 
 Moscow. 
 
 Presently the chief of the Russian 
 secret police entered the room, preceded 
 by the spy. 
 
 " My dear Irkontok," exclaimed Ivan, 
 " may I trespass upon your well-known 
 kindness and good nature for a brief 
 space ? " 
 
 " "With pleasure, my lord duke," was 
 the reply. 
 
 The chief of the police was a tall, thin 
 man, with a careworn expression of 
 countenance, but having an eye like a 
 hawk, and a nose curved like the beak 
 of a parrot. 
 
 His office was no sinecure. 
 
 It was known that there were desperate 
 people in St. Petersburg, who were con- 
 spiring against the Ufe of the Emperor 
 of all the Russias. 
 
 It was his duty to ferret out these 
 assassins and bring them to justice. 
 
 He had no peace, night nor day. 
 
 No wonder his looks were careworn, 
 and his manner restless. 
 
 " You are acquainted with my adopted 
 daughter, ]Miss Effie Vavasour?" con- 
 tinued Ivan. 
 
 " I have had the pleasure of meeting 
 her." 
 
 " She is to marry my nephew, Timor, 
 the Prince of Moscow, whom I may say 
 she does not like, through having formed 
 an unfortunate attachment to an English 
 youth named Jack Dashley, who with his 
 chum has arrived in St. Petersburg, to 
 hold a position in the house of Krackop, 
 Kine and Co." 
 
 " ^^^Iat are you afraid of ? " asked the 
 chief of the police. 
 
 " I fear that Dashley and she will 
 meet. If so, all my plans will miscarry." 
 
OR, THE ADX-ENTUUES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 159 
 
 " Ah ! that is grave." 
 
 " MTiat do you advise ? " asked Ivan, 
 anxiously. 
 
 Without a moment's hesitation the 
 chief of the police turned to Osman. 
 
 " If my memory serves me right," he 
 exclaimed, "ten years ago you were 
 convicted of forgery on a bank in 
 Odessa ? " 
 
 The spy hung his head. 
 
 " Why rake up my antecedents ? " he 
 replied, while a blush of shame and 
 mortification mantled his cheeks. 
 
 " Is it true ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Very well ; then it follows that you 
 can imitate people's handwriting." 
 
 "I was once an engraver, and can 
 copy anything," said Osman. 
 
 " That is what I want to ascertain," 
 cried Irkontok. "Now, you made a 
 report to me this morning, in which you 
 stated that you had succeeded in joining 
 the Nihilists who are to meet at ten 
 o'clock to-morrow night in Neva Street 
 No. 13, under the presidency of their 
 leaders, Plevsky and that desperate 
 conspirator whose name nobody knows, 
 but who is called ' Death's Head.' " 
 
 " That is so, excellency." 
 
 " You further stated that to-morrow 
 night lots would be drawn by the con- 
 spirators to see who is to shoot the 
 emperor." 
 
 " I heard it from their own lips." 
 
 "And I have made arrangements to 
 have the house surrounded by police, 
 while another body will make a sudden 
 irruption and arrest all the members of 
 the band." 
 
 " Well ? " ejaculated Ivan. 
 
 " Let this man write in Miss Effie's 
 hand a letter to the English youth, 
 saying she has heard of his arrival in St. 
 Petersburg, and will meet him at the 
 house, 13, Neva Street, at ten to- 
 morrow evening. Give the password, 
 which is " 
 
 He looked inquiringly at the govern- 
 ment spy, 
 
 " Balkans," exclaimed Owen, " pre- 
 ceded by five knocks given in slow 
 succession. That will ensure the youth 
 admittance." 
 
 " The raid will be made immediately 
 after his entry, and being found among 
 Nihilists he will be sent to the mines 
 with the rest for the term of his natural 
 
 life. That will rid you eflfectually of 
 him." 
 
 Ivan was delighted with this scheme. 
 
 It was worthy of the brain of the 
 chief of the Russian police. 
 
 Ivan extended his hand and grasped 
 that of Irkontok most warmly. 
 
 " I have to thank you greatly," he 
 said. " The scheme will work well. 
 When Prince Timor arrives he will join 
 in my gratitude." 
 
 "You over-rate my poor ability," 
 replied Irkontok. 
 
 "Not in the least, your scheme is 
 excellent." 
 
 At this moment the door opened and 
 a young man, attired in evening dress 
 and glittering with diamonds, entered. 
 
 " Who mentioned the name ofTimor?" 
 he asked. 
 
 All turned round in astonishment. 
 
 " Ah ! " cried Ivan. " It is the Prince 
 of Moscow, my nephew. Welcome, 
 Timor! I did not expect you until 
 to-morrow." 
 
 " Hearing that you were about to give 
 a reception to-night, uncle, and that the 
 emperor was kind enough to honour the 
 Duke of Cronstadt with his presence, I 
 quitted my estates in Livadia a day 
 earlier than I intended." 
 
 " Again I sa}' you are welcome." 
 
 " I trust I have not interrupted any 
 private business between yourself and 
 our good friend Irkontok, who has the 
 reputation of being the best chief of the 
 police that we have ever had ? " 
 
 " Not in the slightest degree." 
 
 " ^\Tiat, may I ask, was your topic of 
 conversation ? " 
 
 "You shall hear, for it will interest 
 you. Jack Dashley and Owen Tudor are 
 in St. Petersburg." 
 
 " The deuce ! ^ly worst enemies in 
 this city," cried Timor. 
 
 " Osman, who is our spy, has found 
 them out. They are in the house of 
 Kjrackop, Kine and Co. as clerks." 
 
 " By Jove, it seems to me that I shall 
 have my revenge after all ! " 
 
 "It is already within your grasp. 
 Thanks to Irkontok, we have settled 
 everything. Osman will write a letter 
 to Jack puqDorting to come from EflBe, 
 and ask him to meet her at the house in 
 the Neva Street where the Nihilists meet. 
 Irkontok will seize the band to-morrow 
 evening. Jack, being among Nihilists, 
 
160 
 
 THE SCnOOLDAVS OF JACK AT ETON! 
 
 will be sent to Siberia as a conspirator. 
 Do you follow me ? " 
 
 " Perfectly." 
 
 *' \Vhat think you of the plot ? " 
 
 " It is a capital one." 
 
 Ivan opened a drawer in an escritoire 
 and took from it a letter which was in 
 EflBe's handwriting. 
 
 It was one which she had written to 
 Jack, but which had been intercepted, 
 without her knowledge, by Ivan, and 
 detained. 
 
 " Let this be your text," said Ivan. 
 
 " Yes, my lord," answered Osnian. 
 
 "Sit down, write the letter, and 
 despatch it at once." 
 
 The spy bowed, and taking the letter 
 began to study the characters, writing 
 short sentences, and imitating the letters 
 of the alphabet as EfEe wrote them. 
 
 A fanfare of trumpets in the court- 
 yard of the mansion was heard. 
 
 " The emperor has an-ived," cried 
 Ivan. 
 
 " We must receive him with becoming 
 dignity," replied Timor. 
 
 They hurried to the grand saloon, 
 leaving Osman at his base work, the 
 object of which was to remove Jack 
 Dashley and place him in slavery for 
 Ufe. 
 
 Irkontok rushed among the guests, 
 and spoke in hurried whispers to several 
 people, who were police agents in dis- 
 guise. 
 
 To look at them you would have 
 thought that they were gentlemen of 
 independent means, and not the wretched 
 tnouchards they were in reality. 
 
 In a few minutes the Czar Alexander 
 made his appearance in the uniform of 
 the Imperial Guard. 
 
 His breast was covered with stars and 
 orders, noticeable among which was the 
 badge of St. George and the Dragon, 
 emblematical of the Order of the Garter, 
 which had been bestowed upon him by 
 Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of England. 
 
 He was in excellent health, but a 
 melancholy look pervaded his singularly 
 handsome countenance 
 
 The Czarof all theRussias was troubled 
 in his mind. 
 
 His subjects were discontented, and he 
 every day received threatening letters 
 from anonymous writers. 
 
 He could trust nobody. 
 
 Ivan received his illustrious guest 
 
 with an ease and courtesy which showed 
 that he was accustomed to move in good 
 society. 
 
 "Your majesty has made me the 
 proudest of your subjects," said he, " by 
 visiting my house this evening," 
 
 "We are glad to honour a faithful 
 subject," replied the czar. 
 
 Effie was standing by, dressed in white 
 satin, and looking very lovely. 
 
 " Permit me to introduce to your 
 favourable notice, my adopted daughter, 
 Miss Vavasour," continued Ivan. 
 
 The emperor smiled. 
 
 " Let her advance," he rejoined. 
 
 Ivan beckoned to EflSe, who made a 
 low curtsey, and stood trembling in the 
 presence of his majesty. 
 
 "A sweet child," said the emperor. 
 " I congratulate you, my lord duke." 
 
 "Your highness is too kind. We 
 propose that Prince Timor shall wed her." 
 
 " She is worthy to grace our court." 
 
 The band at this moment struck up 
 the National Anthem, and the czar 
 walked up the room with Ivan, bowing 
 right and left. 
 
 A throne had been prepared for him 
 at the upper end. 
 
 He took his seat, and, surrounded by 
 courtiers, watched the dancing, which 
 immediately commenced. 
 
 Timor offered his arm to Effie. 
 
 " Jlay I have the honour of dancing 
 with you. Miss Vavasour ? " he exclaimed, 
 
 " Yes," she replied ; " I suppose it is 
 my fate." 
 
 " Do not talk like that. I adore the 
 ground you walk upon." 
 
 "You know my sentiments towards 
 you," said EflSe. 
 
 He placed his arm round her waist, 
 and they began to waltz to the air of 
 the beautiful " Blue Danube." 
 
 Timor was a very graceful dancer, as 
 also was EflBe. 
 
 It seemed to be natural to her to 
 dance and sing. 
 
 They attracted general attention, 
 which was turned into admiration, as 
 they glided softly through the mazes of 
 the waltz. 
 
 " Look at Prince Timor and the lovely 
 Effie — how well they step together," 
 murmurcij the spectators. 
 
 When iLe dance was over, Timor led 
 her to a seat and placed himself by her 
 side. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON. 
 
 No. 11. 
 
rviiES OF ■nvo college chums. 
 
 lU 
 
 " Are you happy with Ivan ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " He is kind to me," was the reply. 
 
 " That is no answer to my question." 
 
 " I am not happy, and you know it," 
 EflSe exclaimed. "Why "was I taken 
 away from my father? ^^^ly brought 
 here against my will ? " 
 
 " For my sake. JIake up your mind 
 to be my wife — that is your destiny." 
 
 " Never ! " cried EfSe. " I will appeal 
 to the emperor if you persecute me 
 further." 
 
 Timor laughed harshly. 
 
 " Ivan and I can do what we like with 
 the emperor," he answered ; " so you 
 may abandon any hope of assistance 
 in that quarter. Mine you shall be, 
 whether you like it or not." 
 
 He glared at her with the savage look 
 of a wild beast. 
 
 "The fact is you are thinking of 
 Dashley," said Timor, after a pause. 
 
 " I dreamt of him last night," replied 
 Effie. 
 
 " What was your dream ? " 
 
 " I thought he was in the coils of a 
 huge serpent, and the snake had a face 
 like you." 
 
 " You are not very complimentary, 
 upon my word." 
 
 Effie made no reply. 
 
 The music struck up again, and a 
 gentleman came to claim her hand for 
 the next dance, so that Timor had no 
 further opportunity of talking to her. 
 
 "By Heaven! I'll tame that girl's 
 proud spirit," he muttered, "or, I'll break 
 her heart." 
 
 The emperor was passing out of the 
 room, ha\'ing stayed about half-an-hour, 
 and he shook hands with Timor. 
 
 "I am glad to see you back again, 
 prince," exclaimed the czar. " Is your 
 health good ? " 
 
 " Thank your majesty, I am in perfect 
 health." 
 
 " I must congratulate you on the 
 choice your uncle, the Duke of Cronstadt, 
 has made of a wife for 3'ou." 
 
 " Unfortunately, yoiu: majesty, the 
 young lady does not love me as much as 
 I do her." 
 
 The emperor laughed musically. 
 
 " That is nothing," he said. " When 
 she is used to you, association will be 
 as strong as love. Adieu, my dear 
 prince." 
 
 Saying this, the emperor desceii'UMl 
 the stairs, Timor bowing to the grouad. 
 
 In the courtyard the royal carriage 
 was in waiting, guarded by a detachment 
 of mounted Cossacks. 
 
 Their heavy fur capes, strange-looking 
 caps, and long lances, made them appear 
 very picturesque in the moonlight. 
 
 When the emperor had departed for 
 the Winter Palace, Timor entered the 
 cabinet in which Osman had been left at 
 work. 
 
 He had just finished writing. 
 
 " Is your task completed ? " asked 
 Timor. 
 
 " Yes, my prince," was the reply. 
 
 "Allow me to look at it." 
 
 Osman showed him a letter, carefully 
 composed in a lady's handwriting, which, 
 in fact, was an exact fac simile of 
 Effie's. 
 
 It ran as follows — 
 
 "My dear Jack of Eton, — I have 
 heard of your arrival at St. Petersburg, 
 and wonder that you have not been to 
 see me yet. Perhaps you do not know 
 where I am living. Ivan is my adopted 
 father. His title is the Duke of Cron- 
 stadt. Timor is the Prince of Moscow. 
 I hate Timor as much as ever. Will you 
 meet me to-morrow evening at ten 
 o'clock, at 13, Neva Street ? Utter the 
 word 'Balkans,' after knocking at the 
 door five times. It will be better and 
 safer than coming to the house of Ivan. 
 Believe me, with a thousand kisses and 
 best wishes, 
 
 " Your loving 
 
 " Effie." 
 
 " Will that do, my prince ? " inquired 
 the spy. 
 
 "Excellently well," answered Timor. 
 "See that it is delivered this even- 
 ing." 
 
 " I will take it myself." 
 
 " Do you know where Mr. Dashley is 
 living ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes. He and Owen are at the 
 ' Prospect Hotel.' " 
 
 " Good." 
 
 Nodding his head approvingly, Timor 
 sought the ball-room again, and once 
 more mingled with the dancers. 
 
 He saw Ivan and Irkontok talidng 
 excitedly together, which caused him to 
 approach to learn the reason of their 
 agitation. 
 
 "The audacity of these Nihihstj"," 
 
If 4 
 
 TU£ SCUOOLDAYS OK JACli AT ETON I 
 
 exclaimed the chief of the police, " is 
 unexampled." 
 
 " What have they done now ? " asked 
 Timor. 
 
 " Look here," replied Irkontok ; " this 
 has just been dropped at my feet, and I 
 cannot tell by whom." 
 
 He handed Timor a shp of paper, on 
 which was written in legible characters 
 these words — 
 
 " Base slave of a tyrant king, this is 
 to inform you that iu spite of all your 
 precautions, your emperor will be killed 
 
 on his way home to his palace to- 
 night. 
 
 « One Who ICnows." 
 
 " It is a joke," cried Timor. 
 
 "On the contrary," said Ivan. "I 
 fear it will be a sad reality." 
 
 " Still," remarked Irkontok, " his 
 majesty is well guarded by his faithful 
 Cossacks." 
 
 In spite of this observation, the chief 
 of the police was ill at ease, and both 
 Ivan and Timor shared his apprehensions 
 of evil. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 THE ATTESIPTED CRIME. 
 
 Jack Dashley and Owen Tudor had 
 only been a few weeks in St. Peters- 
 burg. 
 
 They had acquii-ed a tolerably accurate 
 knowledge of the Russian language 
 before leaving England, and soon settled 
 clown to their business in the great 
 export house of Krackop, Kine, and Co. 
 
 Not finding it easy to acquire lodgings 
 in the English style, where you can pay 
 ft certain price for your rooms and 
 -attendance, they have taken up their 
 abode at the "Prospect Hotel." 
 
 Ever since his arrival in the city, Jack 
 had endeavoured to find some trace of 
 Effie, but without success. 
 
 He did not know that Ivan was, in his 
 •own countrj^, called Duke of Cronstadt, 
 nor was he aware that Timor was the 
 Prince of IMoscow. 
 
 After dinner, on the night of Ivan's 
 reception, Jack and Owen were sitting 
 in their comfortably-furnished private 
 apartment, in which they did not in the 
 least feel the cold, as a huge, self-feeding 
 stove, which burned day and night, kept 
 the temperature up to about 70 degrees 
 Fahrenheit. 
 
 " How do you like Russia, Jack ? " 
 esked Owen. 
 
 " I've nothing to grumble at so far," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 " I don't mind being away from home 
 and friends, because I have got you with 
 me," remarked Owen. 
 
 "Same here." 
 
 "It's jolly cold," continued Owen. 
 *' But there is one comfort, the weather 
 
 does not change. It keeps cold for 
 months together. It is consistent 
 weather, and a fellow knows how to 
 dress." 
 
 " Yes," answered Jack, " the climate 
 is not nearly as trying as that of England. 
 Heigho ! I wonder where dear little 
 Effie is ? " 
 
 " Oh, aren't you spoony ? " laughed 
 Owen. 
 
 " So would you be if you had a nice 
 httle girl like that to love ; and you 
 would be worried in your mind, too, if 
 you did not know where she was or what 
 was happening to her." 
 
 " I suppose I should." 
 
 " What do you say to a walk ? " asked 
 Jack. 
 
 " No, thank you. A cigarette and a 
 read at a good entertaining book is more 
 in my line," answered Owen, with a 
 yawn. 
 
 " Come out and let's take a stroll." 
 
 " Not to-night, if you'll kindly excuse 
 me." 
 
 " Well, I shall go. I feel I want to 
 go out this evening, though I couldn't 
 tell why or what for if you were to give 
 me a thousand pounds." 
 
 Owen pointed to the window, through 
 the glass of which the full moon was 
 visible, riding high and clear in the 
 heavens. 
 
 "Perhaps, like other lunatics, the 
 moon has an effect on you," he ob- 
 served. 
 
 " What do you call yourself? " laughed 
 Jack. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTUUES OF TWO COLLEGE CBUMS. 
 
 165 
 
 "I'm sane enougl. to stay in a hot 
 room, anyhow." 
 
 " I hope the sto\ c will bake you." 
 
 "That's a nice wish," retorted Owen. 
 " Do you want to find your chum, when 
 you come home, reduced to the con- 
 sistency of a mummy ? " 
 
 " There are worse things than mum- 
 mies." 
 
 " Many thanks, but I don't want to 
 be embalmed yet. Go and enjoy your 
 walk and I'll keep house." 
 
 "All right." 
 
 Jack put on his fur coat and seal-skin 
 cap with the ear mufflers, also his india- 
 rubber over-shoes, and his thick gloves 
 lined with swansdown. 
 
 Shaking hands with Owen, and saying 
 he would not be long gone, he left the 
 hotel, and walked along the Nevsky 
 Prospect. 
 
 The air was piercingly cold. 
 
 Those pedestrians whom choice or 
 necessity compelled to be out, huiried 
 along as if their lives depended upon 
 their exertions. 
 
 The snow was hard and crisp under 
 foot, for it was freezing sharp. 
 
 The bridges over the Kiver Neva were 
 distinctly outlined by their many lamps. 
 
 Occasionally a sleigh or a drosky 
 dashed by, but as a rule the streets were 
 deserted, few people being abroad. 
 
 All at once Jack saw a detachment of 
 Cossacks ride by, in their midst being 
 the imperial carriage. 
 
 The emperor was returning from the 
 party given by Ivan, Duke of Cronstadt. 
 
 Suddenly they came to a halt. 
 
 A sledge had been upset in the middle 
 of the road, and it was necessary to 
 remove it before the cavalcade could 
 proceed. 
 
 The emperor's carriage stopped, and 
 the czar himself got out to see what the 
 nature of the obstruction was. 
 
 At this moment a man sprang forward 
 from a doorway in which he had con- 
 cealed himself, and producing a pistol, 
 levelled it at the emperor. 
 
 He was only twelve paces distant. 
 
 His face was rigidly set, and the most 
 determined look sat upon his features as 
 he prepared to pull the trigger. 
 
 It was a question of hfe or death. 
 
 Jack grasped the situation in a moment, 
 seeing that it was an attempt to kill the 
 czar. 
 
 Rushing forward, he knocked up the 
 man's arm just as he discharged the 
 pistol, and the bullet whistled harmlessly 
 through the air. 
 
 At the same lime time he dealt the 
 would-be assassin a blow under the ear 
 which stretched him senseless on the 
 snow. 
 
 Bending down, he seized him by the 
 throat. 
 
 " Ha ! " he cried, " I've got you, my 
 friend." 
 
 Hearing the shot, the Cossacks who 
 formed the imperial guard came up, and 
 the emperor himself advanced. 
 
 The assassin was immediately secured, 
 and Jack, panting with exertion, stood 
 bare-headed before the czar. 
 
 " You have saved my hfe ! " exclaimed 
 the emperor. " Who are you ? " 
 
 " An English boy, your majesty, em- 
 ployed by the firm of Krackop, Kine 
 and Co.," replied Jack, bowing. 
 
 "I saw your brave conduct, and I 
 thank you for your devotion from the 
 bottom of my heart." 
 
 "Your majesty is too flattering. I 
 only did my duty." 
 
 " Would to Heaven that all my sub- 
 jects would do as much," replied the 
 emperor, into whose eyes the tears came. 
 " Why I should be the object of hatred 
 I do not know. I have emancipated the 
 serfs ; but a wave of Socialism is passing 
 over Europe." 
 
 The assassin, who was now securely 
 bound and placed upon his feet, glared 
 at the czar. 
 
 " Tyrant ! " he exclaimed. " Why do 
 you not liberate the poUtical prisoners 
 in Siberia ? " 
 
 A Cossack struck him over the head 
 with the butt-end of a pistol, and he fell 
 bleeding to the ground. 
 
 " Take him away. This is an organized 
 plot," said the czar. 
 
 Two Cossacks dragged the unfortunate 
 wretch off, and the czar again directed 
 his attention to Jack. 
 
 "How can I reward you for your 
 timely and gallant conduct ? " he de- 
 manded. 
 
 " I require no reward, your majesty. 
 The fact is, I am in a good position, and 
 hope to get on in the world by gaining 
 the approval of my employers." 
 
 The emperor took a beautiful signet 
 ring from his finger. 
 
166 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 " Accept this as a token of my grati- 
 tude," he exclaimed. 
 
 " Oh, your majesty, it is beyond my 
 deserts." 
 
 " Not at all. Keep it ; and if you 
 ever require a service at the hands of 
 Alexander of Russia, send me that as a 
 token." 
 
 Jack put the ring on his finger and 
 bowed low. 
 
 The diamond was a stone, worth at 
 least five hundred pounds. 
 
 The emperor got into his carriage, the 
 Cossacks surrounded it as before, the 
 broken sledge was removed, and his 
 majesty returned to his palace. 
 
 Jack Dashley was very much elated at 
 his good luck. 
 
 It was a great thing to have made a 
 friend of the Emperor of Russia, and he 
 hastened back to his hotel to tell his 
 chum, Owen Tudor, all about it. 
 
 When he reached the hotel he heard 
 some one talking to the clerk in the 
 hall. 
 
 " I want Mr. Dashley, of England, 
 belonging to the firm of ICrackop, Ivine 
 and Co.," said the stranger. 
 
 " He's not in, sir," repUed the clerk. 
 
 " His chum, Mr. Tudor, will do as 
 well." 
 
 " Mr. Tudor is upstairs, sir, in No. 7. 
 John, show the gentleman to No. 7." 
 
 John was an English waiter, and he at 
 once said — 
 
 " Come this way, sir." 
 
 Jack Dashley thought he knew the 
 voice of the speaker, and stepped for- 
 ward to get a look at his face. 
 
 " What ! " he exclaimed. " Is that 
 you Bragg ? " 
 
 "Yes, my dear boy. Slap-bang and 
 all alive," replied that individual. "My 
 dad died of bronchitis ; left me all his 
 money. My guardians give me a good 
 allowance. Want to see the world and 
 all that sort of thing. Thought I'd 
 come and give you a look up, you 
 know.'" 
 
 "I'm awfully glad to see you, dear 
 boy." 
 
 "Knew you would be. Gruardians 
 wanted me to go to Oxford. Not for 
 Joe. Not good enough by a long way." 
 
 " You don't like work." 
 
 " I like it well enough to look on and 
 see it done. I was born lazy, and 
 haven't had time to get rested yet. 
 
 Classics no good. Greek and Latin all 
 bosh for a man with a thousand a-year." 
 
 " So much as that 'i " 
 
 " That is the income of your humble 
 servant," repUed Bragg. "Slap-bang 
 and all aUve." 
 
 " Come upstairs into our room ; you'll 
 find Tudor there." 
 
 " With all the pleasure in the world." 
 
 " Have you ordered your bed ? " 
 
 " Yes ; five minutes ago. I should 
 like to see Owen, though Funnybird 
 Minor did call him a Welsh goat, and 
 ba-a at him." 
 
 They walked up the grand staircase 
 together. 
 
 " Have you seen or heard anything of 
 Timor ? " asked Bragg. 
 
 " No," replied Jack. 
 
 "I heard in travelling that he was 
 reinstated in the emperor's favour, and 
 has taken his title of Prince of Moscow, 
 while Ivan is the Duke of Cronstadt." 
 
 " That is news to me." 
 
 They reached the room, and found 
 Owen asleep in front of the stove. 
 
 " Here's an old friend come to see 
 you." 
 
 Owen stretched himself, and looking 
 hard at Bragg, sprang quickly to his 
 feet. 
 
 Extending his hand to Bragg, Owen 
 exclaimed — 
 
 " Delighted to see you." 
 
 " Same here," answered Bragg. " How 
 do you find yourself? " 
 
 "First-class. WTiat brought you 
 here ? " 
 
 "Money, in connection with an ex- 
 press train." 
 
 " That's something new, isn't it ? You 
 used not to be over Hush." 
 
 " Ah, things are altered. Governor 
 gone to the mole country. Underground, 
 you know. Guardians kind; part like 
 lambs. Seeing the world. Slap-bang, 
 and all alive, you know," replied Bragg. 
 
 "Sit down and make yourself at 
 home," exclaimed Owen, adding — " By 
 the way, there is a letter for you. Jack." 
 
 " Wait till I tell you my adventure," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 " Oh, you have had an adventure ? 
 What a romantic being you are ! " 
 
 " I saved the emperor's life. A fellow 
 was going to shoot at him. I knocked 
 his arm up ; he was captured, and the 
 czar gave me his ring. Look at it." 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TUG COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 Jack held up his finger in the light 
 of the gas, which made the gem sparkle 
 brilliantly. 
 
 "Is that a fact?" asked Owen in 
 surprise. 
 
 " Do I tell stories, dear boy ? " asked 
 Jack, in a tone of reproach. 
 
 " By George ! you are in luck." 
 
 Jack took the letter, opened, and read 
 it. 
 
 " Here's another surprise," he ex- 
 claimed. " A letter from Effie." 
 
 " Never ! " exclaimed Owen. 
 
 " She says that she has heard of my 
 arrival in St. Petersburg, and wants to 
 see me at No. 17, Neva Street, to- 
 morrow. Password, ' Balkans,' give five 
 knocks. It sounds very mysterious." 
 
 " Don't go," said Bragg. 
 
 « ^^'hy not ? " 
 
 " I'm afraid it's a plant." 
 
 " If it is, I'll chance it. I'd run any 
 risk to see Efiie once more." 
 
 " Remember that Ivan and Timor are 
 in Russia, and in high favour with the 
 emperor," said Owen Tudor, gravely. 
 
 Jack read the letter over again. 
 
 " I shall go," he replied ; " that's 
 flat." 
 
 "And you'll be a flat," remarked 
 Bragg. 
 
 " That's a matter of opinion." 
 
 " Is there any address on the letter ? " 
 
 " None." 
 
 "That makes it more suspicious. 
 Don't you go. If she wants you she'll 
 come to you." 
 
 " I'll risk it. I'm not afraid." 
 
 " ^lore fool you." 
 
 " You're complimentary," remarked 
 Jack. 
 
 " I don't mean to be offensive — only 
 speak for your good. Slap-bang, and all 
 alive, my dear fellow," answered Bragg. 
 
 " I think we ought to have a bowl of 
 punch to celebrate the arrival of the 
 great Bragg," remarked Owen. 
 
 " Good idea that," replied Bragg. 
 
 The bell was rung, and the punch 
 ordered. 
 
 They spent a merry evening together, 
 talking over old times, and did not 
 separate until the small hours of the 
 morning. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 THE CONSPIRATORS. 
 
 In a small house in Neva Street, not far 
 from the river, lived a man named 
 Plevsky. 
 
 He was short in stature, and so thin 
 that there seemed to be little life in 
 him ; but if his body was small, his 
 mind was large. 
 
 Plevsky was only thirty years of age, 
 and he had set himself the task of 
 regenerating Russia. 
 
 It was his fanatical opinion that it 
 was necessary to assassinate the emperor 
 in order to produce liberal reforms. 
 
 At certain intervals friends of his who 
 shared his opinions met at his house. 
 
 They had decided that they would 
 draw lots to see who should fire upon the 
 czar. 
 
 When evening came the conspirators 
 arrived one by one, gave the required 
 knocks, uttered the password, and were 
 admitted. 
 
 Osman was among the earliest to 
 
 Little did they think that they had a 
 traitor in their midst ! 
 
 About fifteen men, hard visaged, 
 determined, full of energy and courage, 
 devoted to their country, and not caring 
 a rush for their lives, were assembled in 
 a large room. 
 
 The most remarkable personage in 
 the group was " Death's Head." 
 
 This man was skeletonic, being in 
 reality an attenuated ascetic ; his eyes 
 were deeply sunk in their sockets, his 
 cheeks were sunken, his bones seemed 
 to protrude through his clothes, and his 
 face was absolutely bloodless. 
 
 No one knew who he was, or where he 
 came from. 
 
 But he was the guiding spirit of this 
 daring band of Nihilists. 
 
 " My friends," exclaimed Death's 
 Head, " the hour has come. We want 
 but the man who shall strike the blow." 
 
 " Hear, hear ! "replied the conspirators. 
 
 " Someone last night attemiita ' to 
 
1G8 
 
 THE SCnOOLDAYS OK JACK AT ETON; 
 
 take the life of the tyrant who misrule? 
 our unhappy country. He was not one 
 of us, yet it shows the spirit which 
 pervades tlie people. We must be free." 
 
 " We will !" cried Plevsky. 
 
 " Let us draw lots," said Osman. 
 
 Death's Head waved his arm. 
 
 " It is unnecessary," he exclaimed. 
 " I volunteer my services, and will be 
 the regicide." 
 
 Every one looked at him with admira- 
 tion. 
 
 They all considered that his devotion 
 to the cause was sublime. 
 
 " Yes, brothers," he continued, " I 
 will, unaided, kill the monsterwho sends 
 us in thousands to die in the mines of 
 Siberia. Leave me to work out the 
 details ; trust me and all will be well." 
 
 Great applause followed this brief 
 speech. 
 
 Just then a knock was heard at the 
 door, and Osman jumped froni his 
 seat. 
 
 "I think I know who it is," he 
 exclaimed. " I have made a convert, 
 and asked him to visit us to-night. 
 Shall I go to the door ? " 
 
 " Certainly," replied Plevsky. " Any 
 friend of yours is welcome." 
 
 The spy left the room, traversed the 
 hall, and admitted Jack, who uttered 
 the password. 
 
 " Is a lady here waiting to see me ? " 
 asked Jack, shaking the snow, which 
 was falling fast, off his fur coat. 
 
 " She has not yet arrived," answered 
 Osman. 
 
 " You know whom I mean, I suppose ? " 
 
 " ^liss Effie Vavasour." 
 
 *' Precisely." 
 
 "I expect her every minute," replied 
 Osman. *' Will you come inside ? I 
 have a few friends here to-night who are 
 talking politics." 
 
 Unsuspicious of anything wrong. Jack 
 walked into the room and bowed to the 
 issembled company. 
 
 " A brother," said Osman. 
 
 " Freedom or death," cried Plevsky. 
 
 Jack wondered what they meant, but 
 sat down by the side of Osman, and 
 lighted a cigarette, which the latter 
 presented him with. 
 
 All at once a tremendous noise was 
 heard at the door. 
 
 It seemed as if a battering ram was 
 being used against it. 
 
 Everyone in the room turned pale aa 
 death, and sprang to their feet, drawing 
 knives, pistols, and other weapons. 
 " We are betrayed," exclaimed Plevsky. 
 
 " Curses be on the traitors ! " cried 
 Death's Head. 
 Crash ! 
 
 The door was broken open, and a 
 crowd of police rushed into the room, 
 headed by the dreaded Irkontok itself. 
 
 All was confusion and dismay. 
 
 The conflict which ensued was brief 
 but sanguinary; revolvers were freely 
 used, and the police handled their heavj 
 clubs in a brutal manner. 
 
 Bravely the conspirators defended 
 themselves, for they were fighting for 
 their lives, and they knew it. 
 
 Osman seized Jack by the arm, and 
 dragged him into a corner, where they 
 were comparatively out of harm's way. 
 
 " Let me go," said Jack. 
 
 " Hush ! you are safe here," replied 
 Osman. 
 
 In a few minutes the conspirators were 
 all either killed, wounded, or captured, 
 with the exception of Death's Head. 
 
 How he managed to escape nobody 
 knew. 
 
 It was a fact, however, that he 
 contrived to elude the vigilance of the 
 secret police and get clear off. 
 
 Irkontok, the chief of the police, had 
 his arm shattered by a bullet, but he 
 bore himself bravely. 
 
 " Handcuff the ruffians," he exclaimed. 
 " Put manacles on all of them." 
 
 Two policemen advanced to Jack and 
 grasped him roughly by the neck. 
 
 " WTiat are you going to do with me ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 " You have heard the orders of our 
 chief," was the reply. 
 
 " But I am not a conspirator." 
 
 " Why are you here then ? " 
 
 " I came to meet a young lady." 
 
 The poUceman laughed ironically, as 
 he dexterously blipped the iron bands on 
 Jack's hands. 
 
 " This is an outrage," cried Jack. "I 
 am an Englishman, and my ambassador 
 will make you suffer for this. Call your 
 chief." 
 
 Irkontok heard the loud tone in which 
 Jack was talking, and came up. 
 
 "^^^lat are you talking about? "he 
 asked, in a voice which trembled with 
 the pain of his wound. 
 
J, THE ADV-ENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 " f[ow dare you arrest me ? " re- 
 plied Jack. "I don't know these 
 men." 
 
 " We know you as one of the con- 
 spirators," answered Irkontok. 
 
 " I never conspired in my life. The 
 fact is I am a clerk in a commercial 
 house, and came here to meet a young 
 lady. I can show you her letter." 
 
 "Tell that to your judges." 
 
 " You are a brute." 
 
 Irkontok gave him a blow on the 
 
 mouth which loosened his teeth and 
 made the blood flow freely. 
 
 " Take him away, and put him in one 
 of the lowest dungeons in the fortress of 
 St. Peter. Let no one have access to 
 him," exclaimed the chief of the secret 
 police. 
 
 In spite of his remonstrances. Jack 
 was dragged away, put into a sledge, and 
 conveyed to the prison. 
 
 His guards would not answer any 
 question that was put to them. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 Jack was conveyed by the Cossacks who 
 had him in charge to the fortress of St. 
 Peter. 
 
 A gloomier prison can scarcely be 
 imagined. Its frowning walls and narrow 
 casemated windows seemed to be the 
 embodiment of despair. 
 
 During his journey to this abode of 
 misery, he contrived adroitly to slip the 
 ring which the emperor had given him 
 off his finger and put it in his boot. 
 
 It was his only hope. 
 
 How to get it to the emperor he did 
 not know, and he was too stupefied to 
 think. 
 
 When the prison was reached the 
 guards rang a bell at the gate, which 
 was immediately opened, and the sledge 
 into which he had been hastily put, was 
 driven into the courtyard. 
 
 As the gate banged to behind him it 
 seemed to sound the knell of doom. 
 
 Never had Jack felt so utterly pro- 
 strated in his life. 
 
 However, with true British pluck, he 
 Contrived to keep his spirit up to a 
 certain extent, and, being brought before 
 the governor, held his head erect. 
 
 The governor was a tall hirsute man 
 of military appearance, which was war- 
 ranted from the fact of his having sensed 
 in the army during the Crimean war. 
 
 " Who is this? " he asked, twirling his 
 iron-grey moustache. 
 
 " A Nihilist suspect," replied the 
 sergeant of the guard, touching his cap. 
 
 "Cell number three," exclaimed the 
 governor. 
 
 Two Cossacks seized Jack by the arms 
 
 and were about to drag him away, when, 
 with a desperate effort he restrained 
 them and faced the governor of the 
 fortress. 
 
 "Allow me to speak," he cried. 
 
 " Not a word ; away with him," was 
 the rude and arbitrary answer. 
 
 " I will speak, and you shall hear me." 
 
 Alarmed, or interested at his defiant 
 manner, the governor said — 
 
 " Well, I will hear you. What have 
 you to say ? " 
 
 " Simply this," answered Jack. " I 
 am no Nihilist. I have no connection 
 whatever with them. I am an English- 
 man in the employ of Krackop, Kine 
 and Co." 
 
 "That does not prevent you from 
 being a revolutionist. All you English- 
 men have the idea of Socialists." 
 
 " I will appeal to the emperor." 
 
 " That you will have small chance of 
 doing." 
 
 " Will you send a message from me 
 to him, or can I communicate with my 
 friends ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "No." 
 
 " When shall I be tried ? " 
 
 " The chances are that you will not 
 be tried at all. We send a batch of 
 prisoners ofif to the Siberian mines in a 
 day or two, and the odds are you will go 
 with them." 
 
 " Is this Russian justice ? " asked 
 Jack. 
 
 The governor shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 " I suppose you were found with the 
 conspirators or you would not be here," 
 he answered. 
 
170 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 " But it is all a mistake. I received 
 a letter " 
 
 " I can bear no more ; cell number 
 tbree," interrupted tbe governor. 
 
 And Jack was taken away along the 
 corridor by the Cossacks, jjreceded by a 
 gaoler, who held in his bauds a large 
 bunch of keys. 
 
 Jack had to submit to his fate, and 
 with a heavy heart entered a dungeon 
 which the gaoler unlocked. 
 
 He was thrust in, and, the door being 
 locked upon him, he sank upon the floor 
 half dazed at his helpless condition. 
 
 For more than an hour he remained 
 in a state of stupor, for all was dark, and 
 the surroundings miserable in the ex- 
 treme. 
 
 When he recovered himself he got up, 
 groped about the room, found a pallet 
 bed on which he reclined, in vain trying 
 to sleep. 
 
 It was all a mystery to him. 
 
 Why should Effie have written to him 
 in order to get him arrested as a con- 
 spirator ? 
 
 She was incapable of such a thing. 
 
 Then it must have been a plot ; but 
 by whom concocted ? 
 
 He thought the matter over in his 
 mind. 
 
 " Timor ! " he ejaculated, loudly. 
 
 At that moment the key grated in 
 the lock, the door swung back, and 
 Timor himself appeared on the threshold. 
 
 " I am here," he exclaimed, with a 
 dry laugh. 
 
 " You ! " cried Jack, springing up 
 from the bed. 
 
 " Yes ; I have caged my bird." 
 
 " Then you are the author of this 
 infamous outrage ? " 
 
 " Undoubtedly. I am not a boy at 
 Eton," replied Timor, " but a Kussian 
 prince, high in the favour and confidence 
 of the emperor. My word is law. I 
 had a letter written in Effie's name. 
 You fell into the trap and you are here," 
 
 Jack groaned in anguish of spirit. 
 
 " How do you like it ? " continued 
 Timor, with a malicious glare in his deep- 
 set black eyes. 
 
 " Wretch ! you are unworthy to live," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 " ]My good fellow," said Timor, " don't 
 think I have half done with you yet ; 
 this is only a portion of my revenge. I 
 will keep you here for months. I will 
 
 have you knout ed. You shall see my 
 marriage with Eftie, and then you can 
 go to the mines as a white slave for the 
 term of your natural life." 
 
 " Perhaps," rejoined Jack. 
 
 " Why do you say ' perhaps ? ' " 
 
 " We shall see." 
 
 "Do you doubt my power?" asked 
 Timor, stamping his foot on the floor of 
 the cell in an imperious manner. 
 
 "You may be powerful, but the 
 emperor is more so." 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " laughed Timor, " what is 
 the czar to you ? I can tell you that I 
 am more powerful here than his imperial 
 majesty. I hold the oflBce of Super- 
 intendent of Prisons, and can come in 
 here and do as I please whenever I 
 hke." 
 
 ^^^len he had finished speaking he 
 struck Jack a blow on the side of the 
 head which sent him reeling up against 
 the wall. 
 
 " What do you think of that ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 Jack recovered himself in an instant. 
 
 '* Simply that it is only lent, and I 
 am going to pay it back," he cried. 
 
 Before Timor knew what was going to 
 happen to him, he received Jack's fist 
 under his left eye, and rolling up against 
 the gaoler, upset that functionary, 
 lantern and all, falling on the top of 
 him. 
 
 It was a knock-down blow and no 
 mistake, for fully a minute elapsed 
 before Timor recovered himself. 
 
 " 'VMiat did you hit me for ? How 
 dare you do it ? " he demanded. 
 
 " You attacked me first," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 " I'll have you flogged for this to- 
 morrow, see if I don't," continued Timor. 
 " I'll punish you. Confound it ! I shall 
 have a black eye and shall not be able to 
 see Effie." 
 
 " All the better," replied Jack. 
 
 " Wait for the morrow. I'll pay you, 
 you English dog," cried Timor, shaking 
 his fist threateningly. 
 
 " Go on, you Russian bear," retorted 
 Jack. 
 
 Timor quitted the cell, and the door 
 was locked again, leaving the poor 
 prisoner in darkness. 
 
 But though the future looked very 
 black indeed for Jack, he knew whom he 
 had to thank for the plot which had got 
 
 J 
 
CK, TDE ADVENTUUES OK TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 171 
 
 him into a Russian prison, with very 
 small chance of getting out again. 
 
 The night passed in a truly miserable 
 manner. 
 
 Jack found it impossible to sleep. 
 
 When the grey dawn of morning came, 
 he looked out of the iron-bound window 
 into the courtyard below, in which was 
 a solitary sentry, armed with a rifle, pacing 
 to and fro. 
 
 It was a reUef to watch the move- 
 ments of this man. 
 
 After a time the sentry, who was 
 evidently cold and sleepy, retired into a 
 small wooden hut, placed against the 
 outer wall of the prison. 
 
 Jack was about to turn away and throw 
 himself on his rude pallet in the hope 
 of getting a few hours' rest when some- 
 thing else arrested his attention. 
 
 This was very peculiar. 
 
 ^^^lat appeared to be a monkey was 
 seen on the top of the wall. 
 
 It let a rope ladder fall down into the 
 yard, and quickly descended by it, and 
 creeping on hands and knees, it crossed 
 to the prison and began to look in at 
 the windows, cUmbing up pipes, hang- 
 ing on to bars, and taking advantage 
 of every stone coping that came in its 
 way. 
 
 jack's cell was on the ground-floor 
 tier. 
 
 Suddenly the strange creature came 
 to his grated window. 
 
 " Jack of Eton ! Jack of Eton ! " it 
 exclaimed in a low, but distinctly audible 
 voice. 
 
 This caused Jack to start and made 
 his heart beat faster. 
 
 " Halloa ! " he replied. " Who calls 
 me? " 
 
 The strange thing began to laugh in 
 a joyous manner. 
 
 " Don't you know me ? " it said. 
 
 " Why, it's Quicksilver! " replied Jack. 
 " I might have known it by the way you 
 climbed about, as no one else could have 
 done it. WTio expected to see you in 
 Russia ? What brought you here ? 
 and how did you know I was in 
 prison?" 
 
 " I followed you. Master Jack." 
 
 " ^Tiere (fid you get ihe means ? " 
 
 " Mr. SvKi \ paid me my wages, and 
 I worked vtj tray to Cronstadt as a cabin 
 boy on boani ship. When I got to this 
 cold placn, I t7eat to Krackop, Kine and 
 
 Co., and heard you were at the 'Prospect 
 Hotel.' " 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 " There I saw Owen and Bragg. They 
 told me that, as 3'ou had not come home, 
 they had gone to a liouse where you 
 were to meet Miss Effie, and found that 
 the police had arrested every one as con- 
 spirators." 
 
 " I see." 
 
 " Then 1 discovered the prison, and 
 knew I should discover you too. Owen 
 and Bragg are very anxious about you, 
 and want to know what they can do." 
 
 Jack listened attentively to all that 
 Quicksilver said. 
 
 It was a strange, romantic thing that 
 this poor boy should come all those 
 miles to be with him. 
 
 " There is only one thing you can do," 
 he answered. 
 
 « What is that ? " 
 
 Jack had pushed up the window, and 
 taking the diamond signet ring, which 
 the Czar Alexander had given him, out 
 of his boot, handed it to Quicksilver. 
 
 " Take this to the palace. Present it 
 to the emperor. Tell him that I am 
 the victim of a plot on the part of 
 Timor, and ask him to cause me to be 
 brought before him so that I can establish 
 my innocence and explain everything." 
 
 Quicksilver put the ring in his pocket. 
 
 " I understand," he said. 
 
 " Be carefiil that no one takes it from 
 you, as it is my only chance." 
 
 " Trust me." 
 
 Quicksilver put his hand through the 
 bars, and shook that of Jack, then he 
 nodded and disappeared from the window. 
 
 Creeping along as before, he crossed 
 the yard and regained the rope ladder, 
 up which he climbed. 
 
 WTien he reached the top he had to 
 pull the ladder up and let it down on the 
 other side. 
 
 While he was doing this the sentry 
 emerged from his box and caught sight 
 of the boy on the wall. 
 
 He looked, and then raised his rifle 
 and fired. 
 
 Bang ! 
 
 There was a loud report, which echoed 
 all through the prison yard, but Quick- 
 silver, whose eyes were all over the place, 
 had diWned his intention, and with the 
 rapidity of lightning, ducked his head. 
 
 The shot passed harmlessly over him, 
 
THE SCHOOLDAY-s . li- .lACK AT ETON; 
 
 and he descended safely to the ground, 
 running off as fast as his legs could carry 
 him. 
 
 On hearing the shot, the alarm bell 
 was rung violently. 
 
 The guard turned out, and the sentry 
 being questioned, a thorough search was 
 made inside and out of the prison, but 
 of course without any result. 
 
 Every cell was visited. 
 
 When it was found that no one 
 had escaped, the alarm subsided ; still 
 the fact of the rope ladder being dis- 
 covered proved that the sentry had not 
 fired without cause. 
 
 Quicksilver hastened to the hotel 
 "Prospect" to tell Owen Tudor and 
 Bragg what he had done, and to consult 
 with them as to his future course of 
 action. 
 
 He knew that he could trust implicitly 
 in them. 
 
 They had not retired to bed, being 
 too anxious on Jack's account to sleep. 
 
 \Mien the boy entered their room 
 they both jumped up and shook him 
 heartily by the hand. 
 
 " Have you seen him ?" asked Owen, 
 eagerly. 
 
 " Yes," replied Quicksilver. " He is 
 in the fortress — I don't know what they 
 call it, but I had lots of trouble getting 
 up the wall, though a lamp^post helped 
 me a httle. I did one of the biggest 
 jumps I ever did in my life." 
 
 " What did he say ? " 
 
 " He said it was all a plot of Timor's, 
 and gave me a ring to present to the 
 emperor." 
 
 " Bravo ! " cried Owen. " Quicksey, 
 you are a brick." 
 
 "That's a fact. Slap-bang, and all 
 alive," exclaimed Bragg. 
 
 " Now the question is, how are we to 
 obtain an audience of the emperor," 
 continued Owen. 
 
 " I should advise that we wait till the 
 morning and see your employers, 
 Messrs. Krackop, Kine and Co. They 
 will know how to work it," rejoined 
 Bragg. 
 
 " Very well. We can go to bed, and 
 we'll foil that villain Timor yet." 
 
 "I'd hke to have him here," said 
 
 " What would you do ? " asked Owen. 
 "Give him a piece of my mind. 
 Slap-bang, and all ahve." 
 
 At this juncture a form appeared at 
 the open door, and a voice exclaimed — 
 
 " I am at your sen'ice, gentlemen." 
 
 "Timor!" ejaculated Bragg, with a 
 start of surprise. 
 
 Quicksilver at once crawled under the 
 table, without being perceived. 
 
 " You were observing, Mr. Bragg, 
 that you would like to give me a piece 
 of your mind. If 3'ou can spare any 
 part of that very small portion of your 
 intellect, I shall be happy to hear it." 
 
 Bragg laughed. 
 
 " What a comical dog you are, Timor, 
 I always liked you ; but, dash it, you 
 always will take things so seriously," he 
 remarked. 
 
 " What did you mean ? " 
 
 Owen Tudor stepped forward boldly. 
 
 " He meant, though he hasn't got the 
 courage to say or do it, that he would 
 kick you out of this room ; and as he 
 won't I will," he exclaimed. 
 
 " Beware," cried Timor ; " you had 
 better mind what you are about." 
 
 Owen took hold of him by the arm, 
 swung him round as if he had been a 
 child, and ignominiously kicked him into 
 the passage. 
 
 At this moment Timor's face was 
 a perfect study, for it was filled with 
 concentrated hate, and distorted with 
 passion. 
 
 "Very well, Jlr. Owen Tudor," he 
 said, grinning sardonically. " You will 
 find that I did not come here for nothing." 
 
 " No," answered Owen ; " you got 
 rather more than you expected, I think." 
 
 " I shall have you and that boasting 
 fellow Bragg arrested. You are the 
 friends and companions of a Nihilist. 
 We must crush the conspiracy, root and 
 branch, in all its ramifications." 
 
 " Perhaps you will condescend to be 
 a little more explicit." 
 
 " You may, or may not be aware that 
 we have arrested Jack Dashley ? " 
 
 " That fact is known to us," said Owen. 
 
 " Oh," sneered Timor, " you seem to 
 be pretty well informed. You are 
 associated with Dashley, and the chief 
 of the secret police is on your track." 
 
 " Cowardly hound, I defy you to arrest 
 us." 
 
 " Look here,'" said Bragg, " this sort 
 of thing won't do." 
 
 " You will soon find out that it 
 will." 
 
Oa, THE ADVDNTIIKKS OK TWO COLLEGE CUUMS. 
 
 173 
 
 Timor put a silver whistle to his lips, 
 and blew it shrilly. 
 
 In an instant the room was full of 
 police officers, arn^ed to the teetli. 
 
 "Jumping jMoses!" cried Bragg; 
 " I've got myself into a nice mess." 
 
 At the head of the secret police was 
 Irkontok. 
 
 Timor had thought it advisable to 
 arrest Jack's friends, because they might 
 sock the emperor, and tell him about 
 the forged letter purporting to coiue 
 from Eftie Vavasour. 
 
 He did not do things by halves. Not 
 at all. 
 
 Timor, Prince of Moscow, was not 
 that sort of man by any means. 
 
 "Are these two the friends of the 
 suspected Nihilist ? " asked Irkontok. 
 
 " Yes ; I know them well," answered 
 Timor. "They are desperate con- 
 spirators, and have been plotting against 
 our dear friend and father, the Czar 
 Alexander, whom may an all-merciful 
 Providence protect against such villains." 
 " Arrest them," cried the chief oi the 
 police. 
 
 The soldiers at once seized 0<ven 
 Tudor and Bill Bragg, but the forn;.»r 
 struck at the one nearest him, knocking 
 him down. 
 
 " Leave go of me ! " he exclaimed. 
 "I'm an Englishman, and have done 
 nothing wrong." 
 
 Half-a-dozen soldiers fell upon him. 
 He knocked them down like nine-pins, 
 and in the scrimmage Timor got a blow 
 on the nose, which he did not relish at 
 all. 
 
 '* Down with him ! " yelled Timor. 
 
 " We licked you in the Crimea, and 
 
 we'll give you a little more Alma, 
 
 Inkerman, and Balaclava," replied Owen. 
 
 The soldiers presented their- rifles at 
 
 him. 
 
 " Submit, or we fire," said Irkontok. 
 " Submit, or we fire," echoed Owen, 
 eneeringly. "That would be worthy of 
 a cowardly Eussian." 
 
 Irkontok snatched a rifle from a 
 soldier, and clubbing it, advanced to 
 Owen. 
 
 " Bragg, why don't you come to my 
 aid ? " 
 
 " Because they've tied n\y arms. Slap- 
 bang, and all alive ! " replied Bragg. 
 
 Bragg had passively allowed himself 
 to be bound. 
 
 The chief of the police raised the rifle, 
 and hit Owen a blow on the shoulder 
 with it, which made him drop his arms, 
 whereupon the soldiers secured him 
 without any further difficulty. 
 
 " These are prisoners of State," said 
 Irkontok, to the sergeant in command. 
 " Allow no one to see them." 
 
 The two captives were immediately 
 remo\ed, and only Irkontok and Timor 
 remained in the room. They were alone, 
 as they thought. 
 
 Quicksilver, however, was under the 
 table, and had escaped their notice. 
 " So far so good," remarked Timor. 
 "I don't think Mr. Dashley or his 
 companions are likely to trouble you any 
 more," replied Irkontok. 
 " You will see to that ? " 
 "Certainly. They will be sent with 
 the next chain gang to Siberia." 
 
 " But," exclaimed Timor, " who was 
 the person who got into the prison-yard 
 this night? Was it an attempt at a 
 rescue ? " 
 
 " Impossible to tell. 
 The two quitted the hotel, and Quick- 
 silver, of whose presence in St. Peters- 
 burg Timor was ignorant, was by him- 
 self. 
 
 He lost no time in quitting the 
 hotel. 
 
 It was now broad daylight, and about 
 eight o'clock in the morning. 
 
 Proceeding to the business portion of 
 the city, he found out the house of 
 Krackop, Kine and Co., but as yet the 
 counting-house was not open. 
 
 The air was clear and frosty, and the 
 snow lay like a white mantle over all the 
 street. 
 
 To amuse himself and keep himself 
 warm, Quicksilver climbed up and down 
 a lamp-post. 
 
 While thus engaged a man came along 
 and paused, looking curiously at him, 
 and saying something in Kussian. 
 
 " Speak Enghsh," exclaimed Quick- 
 silver. 
 
 " I was remarking, my young friend, 
 that you seem to belong to the monkey 
 tribe," continued the stranger, in very 
 good English. "What are you doing 
 here ? " 
 
 " Waiting to see Mr. Krackop." 
 " And what may your business be with 
 him ? I am a man of some influence, 
 aud may be able to advise you." 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON: 
 
 Being unsuspicious of harm, the boy 
 told the stranger all about the arrest of 
 Dashley and his friends, of his interview 
 with Jack in the prison, and the fact of 
 his having the emperor's ring in his 
 possession. 
 
 This was a very imprudent thing to 
 do, but after all. Quicksilver was only a 
 boy. 
 
 The man's mind seemed to be filled 
 with a fierce exultation. 
 
 Nor is this to be wondered at. 
 
 The stranger, whom Quicksilver had 
 encountered in this accidental manner, 
 was no other than Death's Head, the 
 desperate and mysterious NihiHst. 
 
 " Give me the ring, my dear boy," he 
 exclaimed. " I will seek the emperor 
 and procure the liberation of your friends 
 in an hour." 
 
 " \Miy can't I do it ? " 
 
 "Because his imperial majesty will 
 not see you. Some officer of the court 
 will take the ring and steal it," replied 
 Death's Head. 
 
 There seemed some probability of 
 this. 
 
 " All right ; I'll trust you," said 
 Quicksilver ; " although you've got a 
 funny face ; more like a corpse than that 
 of a live man." 
 
 " You shall not have cause to regret 
 placing confidence in me." 
 
 " I must go with you to the palace 
 and wait while you go inside." 
 
 Death's Head made no objection to 
 this, and saying, " March," the Nihilist 
 took him by the hand, and led the way 
 to the Winter Palace. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 The Emperor Alexander was an early 
 riser, and it was a fact well known that 
 he breakfasted at eight. 
 
 When the palace was reached the 
 clocks of the city were striking ten. 
 
 "Give me the ring," exclaimed Death's 
 Head. 
 
 Quicksilver did so, but not without 
 some misgiving. 
 
 The Nihilist clutched it eagerly. 
 
 " Thank Heaven," muttered the 
 enthusiast. " I shall be able to strike a 
 blow for Russia to-day which will ring 
 through the land." 
 
 " Eh ? what's that ? " inquired Quick- 
 silver. 
 
 "Nothing. Await my return," was 
 the reply. 
 
 Death's Head advanced to the gates 
 of the palace, and was challenged by 
 the sentry, who, on hearing that he 
 wanted an audience of the emperor, 
 sent for the ofiicer of the guard. 
 
 Presently this official appeared. 
 
 "No one is allowed to see his majesty," 
 he replied, in answer to the application. 
 
 "He will see me, however," said 
 Death's Head, with a smile. 
 
 " You seem over confident." 
 
 " Not at all. Look at this ring." 
 
 He displayed the beautiful diamond, 
 
 and pointed out the imperial cypher, 
 which greatly astonished the officer. 
 
 " Have you received any instructions 
 respecting it ? " asked the NihiUst. 
 
 " Yes ; we have orders to let the 
 bearer pass." 
 
 " Did I not tell you so ? Where is the 
 czar at the present moment ? " 
 
 "Alone in the library, reading the 
 morning papers. Shall I conduct you to 
 his presence ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Who shall I say ? " 
 
 " The bearer of the ring ; that is all," 
 answered Death's Head. 
 
 There appeared to be something odd 
 about the stranger, yet the officer of the 
 guard had received orders to pass the 
 holder of the ring, and he did not see 
 how he could be acting wrongly in obey- 
 ing his instructions. 
 
 They crossed the yard of the palace, 
 and passing the guard, entered a large 
 marble-flagged vestibule. 
 
 This, like the yard, was full of armed 
 men. 
 
 The military precautions that were 
 taken resembled a state of siege. 
 
 No one made any objection to the 
 passage of the officer of the guard and 
 his companion, for the former was a well- 
 
ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHCMS. 
 
 175 
 
 known and trusted aide-de-camp of the 
 
 emperor. 
 
 Threading a corridor, in which a 
 sentry paced backwards and forwards 
 with the soldierly bearing of a veteran, 
 they reached a door. 
 
 " Wait," said the officer. 
 
 He took the ring, and, knocking 
 twice, at length entered the apartment 
 which was known as the imperial 
 library. 
 
 It contained hundreds of costly and 
 rare books. 
 
 Yet, it was not on this account that 
 the emperor valued it, for he scarcely, if 
 ever, opened one of the valuable tomes 
 with which its shelves were crowded. 
 
 It had been his habit for years, when 
 residing at the Winter Palace, to seek 
 the seclusion of the library, and be alone 
 before receiving his secretary and minister 
 of state. 
 
 The window looked out on the garden, 
 which now presented a bleak and deso- 
 late appearance, owing to the frost and 
 snow. 
 
 In the grate burned an immense sea- 
 coal fire. 
 
 After the lapse of a few seconds the 
 officer emerged, and ushered Death's 
 Head into the presence. 
 
 He closed the door softly. 
 
 The Emperor of Eussia and the 
 desperate fanatical Nihilist were together 
 alone, and face to face. 
 
 " Ha ! " cried Alexander starting ; " I 
 expected to see a boy. The ring was 
 not given to you." 
 
 " The young man sold it to me," was 
 the reply. 
 
 " Who are you, and what do you want 
 here ? " demanded the emperor, who was 
 beginning to get alarmed. 
 
 "Listen," answered Death's Head, 
 stolidly. " Do you remember a Polish 
 nobleman named Paul, Count of Cra- 
 cow ? " 
 
 The emperor reflected for a brief 
 space, then his face lighted up. 
 
 " Certainly I do," he replied, after a 
 pause. " He was mixed up in the 
 Langewitze troubles in '64. I banished 
 him to the mines. He died in Siberia." 
 
 " No," said Death's Head, raising his 
 voice; "he did not die, for he now 
 stands before you." 
 
 " WTiat ! Is it possible that you are 
 the man ? " 
 
 " I escaped, and have lived for ven- 
 geance." 
 
 " On whom ? " 
 
 "On you, infamous tyrant that you 
 are." 
 
 Death's Head, as we shall still call 
 him, spoke threateningly, and with great 
 excitement. 
 
 PVightened at his attitude, the emperor 
 extended his hand towards the table, 
 upon which was a bell, and also a small 
 ivory-handled pistol of exquisite work- 
 manship. 
 
 " Raise your voice, stir hand or foot, 
 and you are a dead man," cried the 
 Nihilist. 
 
 With difficulty controlling his alarm, 
 the czar sat motionless. 
 
 " That is well," continued his visitor, 
 who drew from his sleeve a dagger of 
 "Venetian make, composed entfrely of 
 glass. 
 
 The assassin who uses a dagger of this 
 kind, plunges it into the body of his 
 victim, as near the heart as possible, 
 and breaks off the handle, so that the 
 blade disappears under the flesh, and 
 cannot be extricated. 
 
 " "What do you wish of me ? " asked 
 the emperor, whose eye never quailed. 
 
 " It is too late to ask you anything," 
 rejoined Death's Head. " You know 
 our programme. We want internal 
 reforms, liberation of political prisoners, 
 a liberal constitution ; in fact, the 
 abohtion of the one-man power. These 
 you have refused to grant." 
 
 " I have." 
 
 "Accordingly, we, the Nihilists have 
 tried you and foimd you guilty. We 
 have pronounced sentence." 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 "Well," ejaculated the Nihilist, "it 
 is a sentence of death, and I am the 
 executioner." 
 
 The muscles of the czar's face twitched, 
 and he trembled slightly', but this was 
 all the agitation he displayed. 
 
 "When and how do you propose to 
 execute me ? " he asked. 
 
 " In five minutes I shall plunge this 
 dagger into your heart." 
 
 He took out his watch and fixed his 
 eyes on the dial. 
 
 The tick, tick of the watch was 
 painfully audible. 
 
 Quick as thought the emperor 
 snatched up the pistol, and before the 
 
176 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 would-be assassin could divine his 
 purpose, he fired. 
 
 Though discharged in a hurry, the 
 bullet was so well aimed, that it struck 
 Death's Head in the right arm, which 
 fell powerless by his side. 
 
 The dagger slipped from his palsied 
 grasp and f'^>ll to the floor. 
 
 With a yell of rage mingled with 
 despair, the wretched man rushed to the 
 window, and throwing himself at the 
 casement, burst through it, dashing the 
 glass on all sides, and fell on the snow 
 beneath. 
 
 He was up again in an instant, 
 knowing that his life dfepended on his 
 speed, and darting amongst the shrubs, 
 disappeared from view. 
 
 "Ho, ho! without there, guards!" 
 roared the emperor. 
 
 His coolness and presence of mind had 
 saved his life, but he wanted the Nihilist 
 captured. 
 
 In a few moments the cfiScer of the 
 guard, who had been waiting outside, 
 entered the library, followed by half-a- 
 dozen soldiers. 
 
 The room was full of smoke, and the 
 czar stood with the pistol in his hand, 
 pointing to the window. 
 
 "Quick!" he cried. "An attempt 
 has been made upon my life. I have 
 crippled the assassin by putting a bullet 
 in his arm. He has escaped by the 
 window. Pursue him. You, Soltykoff, 
 will stay with me." 
 
 This remaric was addressed to the 
 young officer of the guard, who remained 
 behind, while the soldiers jumped out 
 of the window, and dispersed themselves 
 in various directions. 
 
 Soltykoff was a young man of noble 
 birth, and belonged to one of the first 
 families in Russia. 
 
 He was greatly attached to the czar, 
 whom he regarded as the father of his 
 people, and admired as the emancipator 
 of the serfs. 
 
 The emperor leaned on his shoulder. 
 
 " I am faint," he remarked. " This 
 excitement has been too much for me." 
 
 " Be brave, sire." 
 
 ♦' I will ; but for a time I held my 
 life in my hands. At what time have I 
 
 got to visit the poor in the church of the 
 Holy Apostles ? " 
 
 " At twelve, your majesty." 
 " I will retire to my bedroom," said 
 the emperor. 
 
 " A little rest will do your majesty 
 good," said the young officer. 
 
 "Have they caught the wretch ? " 
 asked the emperor. 
 " Not yet." 
 
 "Don't leave me, SoltykofiF. My 
 nerves are all unstrung." 
 
 Soltykoff promised that he would not 
 quit his majesty's side, and assisted him 
 to leave the room, which, owing to the 
 broken window, was becoming ver}' 
 cold. 
 
 The czar threw himself on the bed in 
 his magnificently-appointed chamber. 
 But he could not sleep. 
 He started up at intervals, asking if 
 the assassin had been caught. 
 
 When at last he heard that the 
 soldiers could not discover any trace of 
 him, he was very much annoyed. 
 
 The fear and trembling came upon 
 him again. 
 
 " I have a haunting terror of these 
 men," he exclaimed. 
 
 " Oh, sire, that is foolish." 
 " They will kill me some day," said 
 the emperor solemnly. 
 
 " Let me beseech your majesty to 
 turn your thoughts in another direc- 
 tion." 
 
 " I cannot ; but let us go." 
 The emperor went into another room 
 where his body servants were waiting, 
 and they dressed him in the uniform of 
 the Imperial Guard. 
 
 He was about to perform an annual 
 custom. 
 
 That is to say, he was about to visit 
 the poor who assembled in the church 
 of the Holy Apostles. 
 
 Here he blessed them, called them 
 his children, and his grand almoner gave 
 them sums of money. 
 
 His sledge was in waiting. 
 A detachment of Cossacks with their 
 long lances were in attendance, and 
 amid a flourish of trumpets he was 
 driven off. 
 
 Soltykoff accompanied him. 
 
THE SCHOOLDATS OF JACK AT ETON. 
 
 No. 12. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXrX. 
 
 ONE OF THE POOR. 
 
 QuiCKSnA-ER waited for Death's Head 
 until his suspicions became aroused. 
 
 He thought he had been taken in. 
 
 Nor was he greatly mistaken. 
 
 " Quicksey, my bo}'," he said to him- 
 self, " you are not the smart man you 
 thought you were. There is only one 
 thing you have to do, and that is to see 
 the emperor." 
 
 This was a good idea. 
 
 But how to do it ? 
 
 He leaned against a tree outside the 
 palace, which was destitute of leaves and 
 looked as bare as a pole. 
 
 A few little birds were holding a 
 conversation in its branches, chirping, 
 and, no doubt, talking to themselves. 
 
 They seemed to say — 
 
 " Hope on, Quicksilver. You'll win 
 in the long run." 
 
 " I hope I mav," he thought to him- 
 self. 
 
 It was bitterly cold, and he flapped 
 his arms up and down over his chest to 
 keep himself warm. 
 
 Even this did not have the desired 
 effect. 
 
 He shivered in his boots. 
 
 All at once the gates of the palace 
 opened, and a brilliant cavalcade issued 
 forth. 
 
 In the midst of the mounted soldiers 
 was the Emperor of Kussia, seated in his 
 sledge. 
 
 A poorly-clad man took up a position 
 close to Quicksilver, and watched the 
 procession go by. 
 
 " Is that the czar ? " asked Quick- 
 silver, as if speaking to himself. 
 
 To his surprise the man answered him 
 in his own language. 
 
 " That is his imperial majesty," was 
 the reply. 
 
 " Ah ! You speak English." 
 
 " Well, I ought to, seeing that I was 
 in the Crimean War, taken prisoner by 
 the British at the battle of the Alma, 
 and that I have been to America 
 since." 
 
 " Indeed ! WTiat are you ? " 
 
 " Only a poor devil of a pedlar at 
 present, more or less out of luck ; but 
 
 I am going to the church of the 
 Holy Apostles as sure as my name is 
 Kremlin." 
 
 " What for ? " 
 
 " Don't you know ? " 
 
 " If I did I shouldn't ask." 
 
 "The emperor observes an old custom 
 to-day. He visits the poor, speaks to 
 them, and gives them money." 
 
 « Well ? " 
 
 " Well, don't you see ? I am one of 
 the poor." 
 
 Quicksilver understood the situation 
 in a moment. 
 
 " I understand, my friend," he replied. 
 
 Kremlin looked at him in a strange 
 manner. 
 
 " Are you an acrobat ? " he asked. 
 
 " Not by a long way ; but my dear, 
 benighted casual acquaintance, I in- 
 tended to convey to your mind the fact 
 that I comprehend your meaning, and I 
 will be one of the poor also." 
 
 "You?" 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " You are well dressed, and have a fur 
 coat on." 
 
 "Empty pockets, Kremlin. I can't 
 afford to be poor and look so too," 
 replied Quicksilver. 
 
 Saying this the boy shook Kremlin 
 by the hand and hurried off after the 
 cavalcade, which was fast disajjpearing 
 in the distance. 
 
 The emperor's sledge glided rapidly 
 over the surface of the frozen snow. 
 
 In ten minutes, however, Quicksilver 
 had overtaken it, and, running ahead, 
 reached the church first. 
 
 He entered and sat down on one of 
 the chairs. 
 
 The church of the Holy Apostles was 
 nearly filled with people of the poorest 
 description. 
 
 Some of them shivered with the cold, 
 and looked as if they had had nothing 
 to eat for days. 
 
 Some again were lame and blind ; 
 others suffered from scrofulous diseases, 
 and the assembly was a cross between a 
 workhouse and a hospital. 
 
 In a few moments the czar entered. 
 
18C 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 accompanied by his brilliant staff, their 
 decorations glittering on their breasts. 
 
 The organ began to play, a military 
 band assisted, and the choir sang the Te 
 Deum. 
 
 It was a grand and impressive scene. 
 
 After the chaunt was over the emperor 
 walked between each row of seats, 
 speaking first to the one and then to 
 the other, in a kind, paternal manner. 
 
 His almoner, with a bag full of silver, 
 followed him, and gave out a rouble or 
 two, or a few kopecks, to each person. 
 
 At length the emperor came to the 
 seat on which Quicksilver was sitting. 
 
 " What is the cause of your poverty, 
 my boy ? " he asked in Russian. 
 
 "Please, your majesty, I can only 
 talk English," replied Quicksilver. 
 
 '' Oh," answered the czar, " you are 
 British. Well, I can speak your language. 
 My daughter is married to your queen's 
 son, the Duke of Edinburgh. What can 
 I do for you ? " 
 
 " I am a friend of Jack Dashley, who 
 saved your hfe. He gave me your ring, 
 which I entrusted to a stranger to take 
 to you." 
 
 The emperor turned pale. 
 
 Recent events were fresh in his 
 memory. 
 
 Turning round to one of his officers 
 who was close behind him, he said — 
 
 " Take the boy to the palace and see 
 that he is closely guarded." 
 
 Quicksilver was instantly seized and 
 carried out of the church. 
 
 He was handed over to a couple of 
 Cossacks, and made to walk over the snow 
 to the Winter Palace, where he was 
 confined in a room by himself until the 
 czar returned. 
 
 In half-an-hour the emperor, accom- 
 panied by Irkontok and Soltykoff, made 
 his appearance, putting an end to his 
 suspense. 
 
 " Do you know this English lad ? " 
 demanded the czar. 
 
 Irkontok regarded him closely. 
 
 " No, sire," he replied. 
 
 " Has he been searched for concealed 
 weapons ? " 
 
 " I will search him." 
 
 The chief of the police advanced to 
 Quicksilver, and felt in all his pockets, 
 without finding anything. . 
 
 " Quite safe, your majesty," exclaimed 
 Irkontok. 
 
 He had been sent for in a hurry, and 
 at present he only knew that an attempt 
 had been made on the emperor's life, 
 but he was entirely ignorant of the 
 details. 
 
 " Now, boy, tell us your story," said 
 the czar. " Conceal nothing. If there 
 is any wrong we can remedy, you can 
 rely upon our sense of justice." 
 
 Quicksilver began as follows — 
 
 "Please, your majesty, Jack Dashley 
 and Owen Tudor, two Eton boys, came 
 over here to work as clerks at Krackop, 
 Kine and Go's. They were joined by 
 Bill Bragg, a friend of theirs. Jack 
 saved your life and you gave him your 
 ring." 
 
 " Yes, I follow you." 
 
 " Timor and Ivan carried off Effie, a 
 girl Jack loves, and whom Timor wants 
 to marry. She is in Ivan's house now." 
 
 " Ha! are the Duke of Cronstadt and 
 the Prince of Moscow mixed up in 
 it?" 
 
 The chief of the police turned pale. 
 
 It was his turn to be interested now, 
 for he guessed what was coming. 
 
 He determined to play his part well 
 and declare his ignorance of the plot, 
 sacrificing Timor and Ivan rather than 
 incur the emperor's displeasure. 
 
 " Timor is at the bottom of it all," said 
 Quicksilver. 
 
 " Proceed." 
 
 " Timor and Ivan sent Jack a forged 
 letter which looks like Effie's hand- 
 writing, asking him to meet her at a 
 certain house. He goes. Itis a Nihilist 
 meeting. The police come in. Jack is 
 taken to prison, Timor arrests his two 
 friends, who are also in prison." 
 
 « Yes." 
 
 " I was Jack's boy, and I came out to 
 him. When I heard he was locked up, 
 I got over the prison wall, found his cell, 
 and he gave me your ring. I met an 
 old man, who said he would tell you my 
 story, and I don't know what he did, but 
 he has stuck to the ring, and I want you 
 to let Jack and the others out." 
 
 Quicksilver's story was so simple and 
 straightforward that it carried conviction 
 with it. 
 
 The emperor stamped his foot upon 
 the floor. 
 
 " This is an infamous plot," he ex- 
 claimed, "and I am glad this poor boy 
 has brought it to light." 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CDUMS. 
 
 181 
 
 " Do you believe it, sire ? " asked 
 Irkontok. 
 
 " Every word of it. Ivan and Timor 
 incurred my displeasure once before. 
 They are not to be trusted. I will not 
 tolerate these intrigues." 
 
 " Your majesty shows the wisdom by 
 which you are always guided, and which 
 is the admiration of your subjects," 
 replied the chief of the police. 
 
 He saw which side he ought to take 
 at once. 
 
 The emperor smiled, for he was fond 
 of flattery. 
 
 " Go, my friend, and release these 
 English young men," he exclaimed. 
 " Take them to their hotel, and see that 
 they are not molested." 
 
 Irkontok bowed. 
 
 " Bring Effie to the palace. She shall 
 be one of the empress's maids of honour ; 
 and summon Ivan and Timor to my 
 presence. By Saint Nicholas, they shall 
 be taught to respect my authority ; and 
 take this boy to his friends." 
 
 Quicksilver was overjoyed. 
 
 He sank on one knee, and seizing the 
 emperor's hand, kissed it respectfully. 
 
 Irkontok took his arm, and hurried 
 him from the room, leaving the czar 
 alone with Soltykofif. 
 
 It was e«dent that his majesty was 
 very wrath with Ivan and his unamiable 
 nephew Timor. 
 
 The storm would soon burst over their 
 heads. 
 
 Going downstairs, the gzar sought the 
 presence chamber, which was a large 
 apartment having a throne at the upper 
 end. 
 
 The walls were adorned with full- 
 length portraits of his ancestors. 
 
 Two stoves, kept burning night and 
 day, preserved the temperature at an 
 even heat, which was essential, as his 
 majesty transacted all his business there. 
 
 While waiting for the arrival of Ivan 
 and Timor, he received a visit from his 
 chancellor. 
 
 " Well, what news ? " asked his 
 majesty. 
 
 " I have received secret information, 
 sire, that when your brother, the Grand 
 Duke Alexis, who is expected in St. 
 Petersburg from Germany shortly, arrives 
 here, he will be seized by the Nihilists, 
 and conveyed to some cave where they 
 are in hiding." 
 
 " With what object ? " 
 
 " They will write to you, and threaten 
 him with death unless you grant a 
 constitution and liberate all political 
 prisoners." 
 
 The czar bit his lip. 
 
 It was alarming to hear of the cease- 
 less activity of the enemies of the state. 
 
 "The grand duke must be warned and 
 closely guarded," he said. 
 
 " All necessary precautions have been 
 taken, sire," replied the chancellor. 
 
 At this moment Irkontok appeared, 
 leading Effie by the hand. 
 
 She was very pale, and a look of 
 timidity sat on her face. 
 
 " Very pretty. Eeally charming," 
 muttered the emperor, who was a great 
 admirer of female beauty. 
 
 With a graceful curtsey, Effie stood 
 before the great ruler of all the Russias. 
 
 " Your majesty has, I am informed, 
 been good enough to send for me," she 
 observed. 
 
 " Yes, my child. During your stay 
 in this country, you shall, if it pleases 
 you, be an attendant on the empress. 
 I wish to remove you from the con- 
 taminating influence of Ivan, Duke of 
 Cronstadt." 
 
 " Can I see Mr. Dashley ? " asked 
 Effie. 
 
 " With pleasure." 
 
 " Many thanks for your majesty's 
 kindness, but " 
 
 She hesitated, and a look of terror 
 crossed her features. 
 
 " What, my child ? Speak out," said 
 the czar, kindly. 
 
 " You will not let Timor come near 
 me ? " 
 
 *' Timor will not trouble you. Solty- 
 koff, have the kindness to conduct this 
 young lady to the empress, and explain 
 that I wish her to be attached to the 
 court." 
 
 Soltykoff nodded his head, and, in 
 charge of the young and handsome 
 officer of the guard, she quitted the 
 presence of the czar. 
 
 After this episode, the chief of the 
 police brought in, by another door, Ivan 
 and Timor, who seemed greatly alarmed. 
 
 Irkontok had not said much to them, 
 but they knew enough to be fully aware 
 that their plans had miscarried. 
 
 They stood in considerable daiiger. 
 
 The czar sending for Effie, and his 
 
182 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAVS OF JACK AT ETON 
 
 liberation of Jack and his companions, 
 was an indication that they were in 
 disgrace. 
 
 To be in disgrace with the czar meant 
 that they were ruined. 
 
 They entered the room with bowed 
 lieads, and stood silently before the 
 arbiter of their fate. 
 
 His word was law, and they could not 
 appeal against it. 
 
 "Duke of Cronstadt and Prince of 
 Moscow," exclaimed the emperor, in his 
 severest tones, "you have incurred our 
 disjjleasure." 
 
 " In what way, your majesty ? " asked 
 Ivan. 
 
 " Yes, in what way ? " queried Timor. 
 
 " Do you dare to question me ? " 
 
 " At least we might know of what we 
 are accused, in order that we may have 
 a chance of defending ourselves," 
 answered Ivan. 
 
 " Our honour is attacked," put in 
 Timor. 
 
 " You have no honour, or you would 
 not plot against an unoffending youth, 
 whose claim to my gratitude consists in 
 the fact that he saved my life," retorted 
 Alexander II. 
 
 " You mean Dashley ? " 
 
 " I do. But it is beneath our dignity 
 to argue the point with you. We 
 banish you from the Russian dominions 
 for two years, and give you twenty-four 
 hours to leave the country." 
 
 Their countenances fell. 
 
 " If you are found in Eussia after the 
 expiration of that time, you will be 
 imprisoned in a fortress." 
 
 This was their sentence, and a heavy 
 one it was too. 
 
 Both Ivan and Timor felt it acutely. 
 
 " The young lady, Efl&e, will be taken 
 care of by the empress," added the czar. 
 
 Ivan fell on his knees. 
 
 " Mercy, sire, mercy ! " he pleaded. 
 
 Timor savagely bit his lips, and said 
 nothing, though his heart was full of 
 rage and bitterness. 
 
 " A\'e have spoken," said the emperor, 
 coldly. 
 
 He made a sign to Irkontok, who 
 raised Ivan, and making a sign to Timor, 
 conducted them to the outside of the 
 palace. 
 
 Not a word did he speak. 
 
 It is dangerous in Russia to speak to 
 a disgraced man who has incurred the 
 displeasure of his sovereign. 
 
 Pulling their fur coats tightly about 
 them, uncle and nephew walked along 
 the street in silence for a time. 
 
 Timor was the first to break the silence, 
 which was becoming oppressive. 
 
 " Confound the luck ! " he exclaimed. 
 " It is too bad. Just when we thought 
 that everything was all right." 
 
 " ' Put not thy trust in princes,' " 
 replied Ivan. 
 
 " What shall we do, uncle ? " 
 
 " Go to Germany, I think. The czar 
 has not taken my estates from me as he 
 did on a former occasion when I offended 
 him, that is one good thing. I can live 
 like a nobleman this time, and not like 
 a gipsy." 
 
 " I shall remain here," answered 
 Timor, with determination. 
 
 "For what?" 
 
 " Revenge. I'll have Effie away from 
 the palace, I'll get square with Jack 
 Dashley, and I'll get even with the 
 emperor himself." 
 
 They had stopped while speaking, and 
 were leaning against the railings of a 
 house. 
 
 The door had opened softly, and an 
 old man, with a venerable grey beard, 
 had issued forth. 
 
 They did not see him, as he was 
 behind them. 
 
 " You talk wildly," exclaimed Ivan. 
 
 " I mean what I say." 
 
 " But how will you do it ? " 
 
 Timor hesitated, for he scarcely knew 
 what to say in reply. 
 
 Suddenly a voice exclaimed in their 
 ears — 
 
 " Gentlemen, join the Nihilists, who 
 are the saviours of their country." 
 
 Both started, and turned round 
 quickly. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES 01' TWO COLLEGE CHUiMS. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 THE CAVE OV THE CONSPIRATORS. 
 
 They beheld before them an old man 
 apparently, whose arm was in a sling, 
 as if he had been recently wounded, or 
 had met with a fall. 
 
 " Who are you ? " asked Ivan. 
 
 " First of all let me question you," 
 was the reply. 
 
 " That is not unreasonable." 
 
 " I have heard your remarks, and you 
 appear to be discontented. If the czar 
 has driven the iron into your souls, I can 
 help you to your revenge." 
 
 Ivan and Timor looked at one another. 
 
 " Shall we trust him ? " asked Timor. 
 
 "I am inclined to do so," said his uncle. 
 
 " Very well. Speak to him." 
 
 " I will do so. My friend, I am the 
 Duke of Cronstadt, and this young man 
 is the Prince of Moscow, two of the 
 proudest titles in the country. We have 
 been disgraced and banished for a 
 trifling ofience. Is it not natural that 
 we should feel resentment ? " 
 
 The old man laughed scornfully. 
 
 "The nobles of Eussia are like the 
 peasants," he rejoined ; " you accept the 
 slavery which the czar offers you, and 
 you hug your chains with which he 
 binds you. Not so I." 
 
 " Then you are a conspirator ? " 
 
 '* I am to the backbone, and one of 
 the most unrelenting kind. You may 
 have heard of Count Cracow the Pole." 
 
 " Yes," answered Ivan. 
 
 " I am he." 
 
 The old man folded his arms aud 
 smiled proudly. 
 
 " Do you know the risk you run in 
 telling us this ? " asked Timor. 
 
 " Perfectly ; but I see that you are 
 discontented. I want to win you over 
 to the revolutionary cause, and together 
 we will soon strike a blow which shall 
 shake Eussia to her centre." 
 
 "What mean you ? " 
 
 " The tyrant must die." 
 
 There was a jjause, during which 
 Timor and Ivan regarded one another 
 uneasily. 
 
 " Be not alarmed. Come with me to 
 a secret place, which is alone known to 
 myself and a few devoted followers. I 
 
 have a sledge waiting at the corner of 
 the street." 
 
 They still hesitated. 
 " Your answer — yes or no." 
 " Yes," cried Timor. 
 He seized Ivan by the arm, and 
 dragged him along after the old man, 
 who was no other than Death's Head. 
 
 This mysterious personage had 
 escaped from the pursuit of the guards 
 who had been sent to scour the garden 
 after him. 
 
 He had gone to the house of a friend^ 
 where his arm had been bound up and 
 placed in a sling. 
 
 It chanced that he came out of the 
 house just in time to hear Timor's 
 remarks, and seeing his opportunity, he 
 grasped it. 
 
 The cause stood in need of recruits, 
 and the Nihilists were ever on the look- 
 out to make converts. 
 
 Without stopping to think of tho 
 gravity of the step they were taking, Ivan 
 Timor, angry with the czar, their 
 filled with resentment, came to a 
 sledge capable of holding four. 
 
 The driver, a common - looking 
 
 Moujick, held the reins in his hand. 
 
 " Jump in," exclaimed Death's Head. 
 
 They all three took their places, and 
 
 the driver cracking his long whip, away 
 
 sped the sledge over the snow. 
 
 Neither Ivan nor Timor knew where 
 they were going to. 
 
 They had taken a desperate step, and 
 it was too late to draw back, and, more- 
 over, this step was after all in accordance 
 with their inclinations. 
 
 They were furiously indignant with 
 the emperor, and both being men of 
 strong passions, they felt that they 
 would risk much to obtain vengeance. 
 
 When they quitted the city the road 
 taken by the driver was principally 
 through some dense pine forests. 
 " Have we fiir to go ? " asked Ivan. 
 "About a dozen versts," replied 
 Death's Head. 
 
 All at once a strange snapping sound 
 was heard : the harness had broken, and 
 the horse fell aver on bis side. 
 
184 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 Death's head sprang up, exclaiming — 
 
 " Confusion ! What is that ? " 
 
 " A trace has snapped," answered the 
 driver ; " but I have some rope and will 
 soon fix it." 
 
 " Make haste, in the Virgin's name ! " 
 
 " Leave it to me," replied the man. 
 
 With a volume of curses the driver 
 made the horse rise, and began to see 
 how the mischief could be remedied. 
 
 " A little delay will make no differ- 
 ence," remarked Ivan. 
 
 " No," laughed Timor. " Our time is 
 our own, and we are likely to have 
 enough of it on our hands for some days 
 to come." 
 
 The Nihilist shook his head. 
 
 " There is danger," he exclaimed. 
 
 " Of what kind ? " 
 
 " These forests swarm with wolves, and 
 at this time of the year the ravening 
 creatures are perished with hunger." 
 
 " True, I had forgotten that ; but I 
 have a pistol, I think," said Ivan. 
 
 He felt in his pocket, and a look of 
 dismay came over his face. 
 
 " By Heaven ! I have left it at home," 
 he added. 
 
 " And I have forgotten mine," said 
 Timor. " What shall we do ? " 
 
 The old man smiled, as he lifted up 
 the lid of the seat on which he had been 
 sitting. 
 
 He disclosed a dozen pistols, with 
 several boxes of cartridges. 
 
 " Help yourselves, gentlemen," he 
 cried. " We Nihilists never travel with- 
 out taking a small arsenal with us." 
 
 "Ah, that is good," replied Ivan, 
 taking a couple, an example which was 
 followed by Timor. 
 
 The three men filled the pistols with 
 cartridges, and cocked them ready for 
 action. 
 
 It was just as well to be prepared for 
 any emergency that might arise. 
 
 The silence of death reigned in that 
 vast snow-clad solitude. 
 
 Not a breath of wind disturbed the 
 serenity of the atmosphere, which was 
 quiet as the grave. 
 
 Occasionally an oath escaped the 
 Moujick, but these Russian drivers are 
 given to using strong language. 
 
 Of a sudden Death's Head put his 
 hand to his ear, as if he was extempo- 
 rising a speaking-trumpet. 
 
 " Hark ! " he whispered. 
 
 Neither Timor nor Ivan could hear 
 anything. 
 
 " What is it ? " asked Timor. 
 
 " I fancy I can catch the sharp dog- 
 like bark of a wolf." 
 
 " It is possible." 
 
 The Nihilist jumped from the sledge, 
 and threw himself prone on the earth 
 with an ear to the snow. 
 
 It is a well-known acoustic fact that 
 sound travels along the ground. 
 
 He remained in this recumbent posi- 
 tion for fully half a minute when he got 
 up with an expression of anxiety on his 
 face. 
 
 " Well ? " ejaculated Ivan. 
 
 " A pack of wolves are on our track," 
 said Death's Head, adding, as he addressed 
 the driver, " Michael, may the deuce fly 
 away with your carcase if you don't make 
 haste ! " 
 
 " It's nearly done, master." 
 
 "We shall be all undone if it is 
 not." 
 
 In a few minutes more the broken 
 trace was mended, and Michael took his 
 seat as before. 
 
 The whip cracked, the Moujick swore, 
 and the startled horse flew over the snow 
 as well as the bad road and unequal 
 nature of the ground would allow 
 him. 
 
 Now the sound, which at first was 
 only audible to Death's Head's practised 
 ear, was heard by Ivan and Timor. 
 
 It grew louder and louder. 
 
 Timor looked over the back of the 
 sledge, and presently saw a pack of about 
 seventy gaunt, hungry, barking wolves 
 coming after them. 
 
 On they came at a swinging pace, 
 which the horse, heavily laden as he was, 
 could not equal. 
 
 " They're coming," said Timor. 
 
 " Wait tiU they come near enough, 
 and then drop one," exclaimed the 
 Nihilist. " We will reserve our fire." 
 
 " What's the use of kiUing one ? " 
 
 " You will see." 
 
 In a short time the foremost wolves 
 came within range, and, selecting a big 
 one, Timor fired. 
 
 He fell with a short yelp, and rolled 
 over on the snow, which he reddened 
 with his blood. 
 
 Instantly the nearest wolves sprang 
 upon him, and began to tear the quiver- 
 ing carcase with their teeth. 
 
OK. IHE ADVTiNTUUES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 185 
 
 They were devouring the body of their 
 dead companion. 
 
 Wolves are no respecters of persons. 
 
 " On, on, for your life ! " shouted 
 Death's Head. 
 
 The driver plied the whip with renewed 
 energy, and the wretched horse, already 
 covered with foam, was stimulated to 
 fresh exertions. 
 
 It was a race for life and death. 
 
 In an incredibly short space of time 
 the dead wolf was eaten up, and the 
 yelping pack continued the pursuit. 
 
 Shot after shot was fired until thirty 
 wolves were killed. 
 
 Then a misfortune occurred which 
 had not been calculated upon. 
 
 The horse was an animal of a certain 
 age, and the pace at which he had been 
 driven, which was one which he had not 
 been accustomed to, affected his heart. 
 
 He gave a heart-breaking sob, a wild 
 snort, and, plunging forward, fell down 
 dead. 
 
 The party were still four or five versts 
 from their destination. 
 
 This distance they would of necessity 
 have to traverse on foot, as it was im- 
 possible to obtain any other conveyance 
 in such a wild, sparsely populated 
 country. 
 
 " Jump out quickly," said Death's 
 Head. 
 
 He assumed the entire command in 
 this emergencN', and the others passively 
 obeyed his orders. 
 
 A little to the right of them was a 
 fallen tree. 
 
 It had been one of the monarchs of 
 the forest, but had at length succumbed 
 to time and the weather. 
 
 Perhaps it had been blown down 
 during one of those fearful gales which 
 occasionally sweep over the frozen step- 
 pes of the Caucasus, and devastate cen- 
 tral and northern Eussia. 
 
 Its trunk was so large as to come up 
 to a man's waist. 
 
 " Get behind the shelter, boys," con- 
 tinued the Nihilist, who had been an 
 old soldier, and was in his element when 
 danger was to the fore. 
 
 " A good idea," said Timor. 
 
 "We could hold it against a regiment," 
 remarked Ivan. 
 
 " Let them eat the horse," exclaimed 
 Death's Head. 
 
 " Good again ! " Tunor replied. 
 
 " While they are doing that we can 
 take cool pot shots at them." 
 
 The men retreated behind the trunk 
 of the fallen tree. 
 
 On came the wolves, seemingly not 
 having had their appetites at all satisfied 
 by the feast they had had. 
 
 Their long tongues were hanging out 
 of their mouths. 
 
 In a moment they fell upon the horse, 
 and began to eat his body with all the 
 sickening greed of vultures. 
 
 Bang, bang, bang ! 
 
 The pistols were discharged with 
 unerring aim, and the wolves fell as fast 
 as leaves in autumn. 
 
 Still those that remained would not 
 quit the carcase. 
 
 In a short time it was all over. 
 
 The last wolf received his death blow 
 and rolled over on his back with his legs 
 in the air. 
 
 " That settles it," said Death's Head. 
 
 " We are well out of it," observed Ivan 
 with a shudder. 
 
 " By Saint Nicholas, you are right," 
 answered Timor. " I shouldn't like to 
 find my grave in a wolfs stomach." 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Death's Head, 
 " we have an hour's brisk walk before 
 us. When we reach our destination I 
 will extend to you all the hospitality in 
 my power, and we can at our leisure talk 
 over our plans." 
 
 They started on their weary journey 
 over the frozen snow. 
 
 At length, as the sun was setting with 
 a dull, leaden hue, they reached some 
 rocky mounds, closely covered with a 
 thick growth of brushwood. 
 
 Pushing this aside. Death's Head 
 followed a well-defined path, which led 
 down a dechne to an opening in the side 
 of a rock. 
 
 Opposite this was a stone, which he 
 pushed away, disclosing an aperture 
 about two feet wide and four high. 
 
 " Enter, my friends! " he exclaimed. 
 
 They stepped down, and found them- 
 selves in a spacious cavern, which was 
 lighted by oil lamps, suspended by iron 
 chains fixed in the roof. 
 
 Half -a- dozen wild - looking, long- 
 haired, bearded men were engaged in 
 tiilking, drinking vodka, or reading. 
 
 An old woman was standing over a 
 charcoal stove, superintending the cook- 
 ing of a savoury stew. 
 
186 
 
 THE SCnOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON! 
 
 Its odour pervaded the apartment, and 
 gave out an appetising smell, to which 
 the new-comers were not insensible. 
 This was the cave of the Nihilists. 
 
 It was securely hidden in the recesses 
 of the forest, and no one could be sur- 
 prised at the secret police having no idea 
 of its existence. 
 
 The men crowded round Death's Head, 
 and cordially welcomed him back, asking 
 for the news. 
 
 " I have made two attempts at the 
 tyrant's life," replied the Nihilist. " I 
 have failed, and I return with a broken 
 arm, but an undaunted spirit." 
 
 These sentiments were loudly ap- 
 plauded. 
 
 Seeing that his firiends looked curi- 
 ously at Timor and Ivan, he introduced 
 them. 
 
 " The Prince of Moscow and the Duke 
 of Cronstadt," he continued. ''They 
 are the two last victims of the czar's 
 caprice, and they have been driven to 
 join us." 
 
 " Where is Plevsky ? " asked one 
 Nihilist. 
 
 " A prisoner ! " 
 
 " And the others ? " 
 
 "Dead or captured. We were be- 
 trayed." 
 
 " By whom ? " 
 
 " From information I have received it 
 was by Osman." 
 
 As this name was mentioned, a man 
 who had been reclining on a rude pallet, 
 stretched on the floor, rose up. 
 
 He rubbed his eyes and looked vacantly 
 about him. 
 
 " Who called me ? " he asked. 
 
 Death's Head's eyes flashed, and he 
 stretched out his uninjured arm threaten- 
 ingly. 
 
 " Seize that man," he exclaimed. " He 
 is a spy ! " 
 
 Immediately half - a - dozen hands 
 grasped Osman, and he was secured. 
 
 " Bind him," cried Death's Head. 
 
 A rope was tied round his wrists, and 
 his hands tied behind him. 
 
 " What have I done ? " cried Osman, 
 in an agony of terror. 
 
 " My information is to be relied upon," 
 replied Death's Head. "J was told that 
 you spoke to Irkontok about our meeting 
 place in Neva Street, and that you 
 occasioned the raid upon us." 
 
 " I will swear I did not," said the spy. 
 
 " The oaths of traitors are of no 
 avail." 
 
 Ivan had overheard this colloquy, and 
 he stepped forward. 
 
 " Let me say a word or two which will 
 settle this question," he exclaimed. 
 " Certainly," was the reply. 
 " The man is a spy. I can confirm all 
 you say. Since I have joined your band, 
 I must study my own safety, and we 
 can none of us live in security while 
 this fellow continues to exist." 
 
 Ivan remembered the ball at his house, 
 when Osman forged the letter from EflSe 
 which was to entrap Jack Dashley. 
 
 It was Osman who revealed the meet- 
 ing place of the NihiUsts. 
 
 " He must die," said Death's Head, in 
 a solemn voice. 
 
 The spy was seized with a sudden 
 terror. 
 
 His eyes nearly started from his head, 
 and his Limbs trembled under him so 
 violently, that he could scarcely stand. 
 
 "Spare me!" he said, clasping- his 
 hands wildly, " and I will do anything 
 you order me." 
 
 " Your life is forfeited, for you are in 
 the pay of our enemies." 
 
 " But I have not yet told him of this 
 hiding-place." 
 
 " That is because you have not had 
 the chance. Perhaps to-morrow you 
 might have betrayed us." 
 " Mercy ! Mercy ! " 
 Death's Head waved his hand. 
 " Dig a grave," he exclaimed. 
 " Must I die ? " cried Osman. 
 " In five minutes. Make your peace 
 with Heaven, if j-ou have any belief, 
 which I strongly doubt." 
 
 Osman turned to Timor and Ivan, 
 begging their intercession on his behalf, 
 to which they turned a deaf ear. 
 
 He urged that he had been of service 
 to them, he spoke about the letter he 
 had forged in Effie's name, and he begged 
 wildly for his life. 
 
 It was dangerous, however, in their 
 present circumstances to allow such a 
 man to live, and they would not listen 
 to him. 
 
 Two men went outside the cave, one 
 with a pick-axe, the other with a shovel, 
 and in half-an-hour they had dug a 
 grave. 
 
 During this time the fellow's suffer- 
 ings were terrible. 
 
OK, TUE ADVENTUIUXS OF TWO COLLEGE CUUMS. 
 
 187 
 
 He completely broke down, grovelling 
 on the floor in abject fear. 
 
 " Lead him out," said Death's Head, 
 when the men announced that the grave 
 was ready. 
 
 " Who will be the executioner? "asked 
 Timor. 
 
 " I ! " replied the head Nihilist. 
 
 " Just as you like, but it is a job that 
 would just suit me. I have had a little 
 pistol practice at the wolves, and " 
 
 " If you like," said Death's Head. 
 
 " Grant me the favour." 
 
 " With all the pleasure in the world," 
 answered Death's Head, with a polite 
 bow, such as a Russian gentleman always 
 knows how to make. 
 
 A love of blood shedding was innate 
 in Timor's disposition, for he was cruel 
 by nature. 
 
 He liked to torment, to hurt, to kill 
 his fellow creatures. 
 
 In fact, he had all the wild beast 
 instinct in him, and it would come out 
 whenever it had an opportunity. 
 
 When the spy was taken outside and 
 placed near the grave which had been 
 hastily dug, Timor levelled a pistol at 
 him. 
 
 " Are you ready to die ? " he asked. 
 
 " Yes," replied the trembling wretch. 
 
 He knew that his last hour had come, 
 and that he had no mercy to expect 
 from those by whom he was surrounded. 
 
 The next moment the pistol was dis- 
 charged. 
 
 Osman staggered and fell. 
 
 For a brief space his limbs twitched 
 convidsively, then all was still. 
 
 " That's a good job over," remarked 
 Timor carelessly. 
 
 " Put him in the grave," said Death's 
 Head. 
 
 A couple of Nihilists threw the body 
 of the spy into the hole prepared for it, 
 and hastily shovelled some loose earth 
 upon it, after which all retired to the cave. 
 It was rapidly growing dark. 
 In those regions there is no twilight, 
 and day becomes night all at once with- 
 out any warning. 
 
 Scarcely ten minutes elapsed after 
 the conclusion of the tragedy, when the 
 earth in the grave moved, and Osman 
 got up. 
 
 He was ghastly pale, and pressed his 
 hand to his shoulder, from whence blood 
 was flowing. • 
 
 The shot had entered his body, but 
 had not touched a vital spot, and with 
 innate cunning, hehad sufficient presence 
 of mind to sham being dead. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! " he exclaimed, in a 
 sepulchral tone, " I shall live to bafHe 
 all of you, and yet be revenged." 
 
 Timor had not been so successful as 
 he had imagined. 
 
 With a staggering gait, Osman walked 
 into the forest, not knowing where he 
 was going, but hoping that he might 
 gain some shelter before he sank on the 
 snow through sheer loss of blood. 
 
 He tore open his shirt and placed a 
 handkerchief over the wound which had 
 the effect of stopping the bleeding some- 
 what. 
 
 For nearly an hour the wounded 
 wretch crawled rather than walked 
 along, plunging knee deep into the 
 snow, and knocking up against the trees 
 in the darkness. 
 
 It was a fight against fate. 
 
 At times he felt inclined to give up. 
 
 Life, however, is sweet, and he perse- 
 vered against all obstacles. 
 
 At length, he saw a bright red glare, 
 some few yards in front of him, and this 
 gave him renewed courage. 
 
 It was evidently a fire. 
 
 In a brief space he found himself in 
 the presence of a tall bearded man with 
 unkempt hair, clad in sheepskin. 
 
 He was standing by a large wood fire, 
 and near him was a roughly built hut Id 
 which he lived. 
 
 The man was a charcoal burner. 
 
 He cut down the trees, and burning 
 the wood, converted it into charcoal, 
 which was used in his master's house, a 
 few leagues distant. 
 
 Seeing Osman, white and bleeding, in 
 the pale rays of the fire, the man crossed 
 himself. 
 
 He thought it was some evil spirit. 
 
 " Be not alarmed, my friend, I am 
 mortal like yom-self ! " exclaimed Osman. 
 
 " Whence come you ? " asked the char- 
 coal burner. 
 
 " I have been attacked by robbers, who 
 shot and left me for dead," replied 
 Osman, in a faint and trembling 
 voice. 
 
 " Holy Virgin, you have had a narrow 
 escape." 
 
 " Give me shelter, and I will reward 
 you," said Osman. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 " Let me see the colour of your money 
 first," returned the charcoal burner. 
 
 Osman drew from his pocket twenty 
 roubles, which he gave him. 
 
 " It's all the thieves left me, and you 
 are welcome to it," he said. " Put me 
 in your hut. Cover me with skins, tie 
 something round my shoulder and give 
 me a plentiful supply of water." 
 
 The peasant took the money, and 
 gladly complied with these instructions, 
 which did not cost him much trouble. 
 
 Osman was well cared for. 
 
 The bleeding stopped, and after drink- 
 mg a copious draught of water, he fell 
 into a sound slimiber, from which he did 
 not wake until late the following 
 morning. 
 
 Nature was thoroughly exhausted by 
 what he had gone through. 
 
 He awoke somewhat refreshed, but 
 was not strong enough to rise. 
 
 The charcoal burner gave him some of 
 his own food, and waited on him with 
 the tenderness of a woman. 
 
 Osman was brooding over the venge- 
 
 ance he would take upon the Nihilists 
 when he got well. 
 
 It seemed so long though, while he 
 was recovering. 
 
 In the long weary watches of the 
 silent night, when unable to sleep 
 through pain, the wounded spy thought 
 of what he would do when he got strong 
 again. 
 
 Having a slight knowledge of surgery, 
 he instructed the peasant how to probe 
 for the ball. 
 
 After some inefifectual attempts, the 
 man succeeded in tracing the bullet to 
 its resting-place, which was just under 
 the shoulder blade, and finally extracted 
 it. 
 
 After this the wound healed rapidly. 
 
 In a few weeks Osman was well enough 
 to take leave of the ignorant, but kind 
 and hospitable charcoal burner. 
 
 Starting early one morning he reached 
 the high road, and meeting a waggon 
 bound for the capital, induced the driver 
 to give him a lift to St. Petersburg, 
 which city he reached at nightfalL 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 Jack Dashlet, Owen Tudor, and Bill 
 Bragg were promptly released from 
 prison by Irkontok. 
 
 The chief of the police did not dare to 
 resist the order of the emperor. 
 
 He informed them of all that had 
 taken place,as they went backtothe hotel. 
 
 All were very glad to hear of the 
 disgrace of Timor and Ivan, by whom 
 they hoped most sincerely that they 
 would not again be persecuted. 
 
 It was also a source of gratification 
 for Jack to know that Effie had been 
 taken under the powerful protection of 
 the czar. 
 
 They were allowed to visit her in the 
 palace, and she frequently called upon 
 them. 
 
 Jack determined to give a dinner 
 party, as Bragg was going to leave them, 
 intending to continue his travels. 
 
 He invited EflBe to come, and she 
 accepted. 
 
 All day they were busy arranging 
 about the dishes and the wines. 
 
 "I want to do the thing in style, 
 regardless of expense," said Jack. 
 
 "Don't put yourself out on my 
 account," said Bragg — " a mutton chop 
 and a potato wiU do for me. Slap-bang, 
 and all alive, you know." 
 
 " I'll do it like a prince, if it costs me 
 a month's salary." 
 
 " All right ; please yourself." 
 
 The servant who waited upon them 
 was called Kravosky. 
 
 He had not been long engaged at the 
 hotel, and was an e\TJ-looking fellow 
 about thirty years of age. 
 
 The boys had remarked that he had 
 a way of hanging about the room, 
 listening to their conversation, under 
 pretence of arranging articles in Tarious 
 parts of the apartment. 
 
 About six o'clock on the day of the 
 dinner, when Jack and Owen had 
 returned after their work at the office, 
 Bragg exclaimed — 
 
 " I'm glad you've come." 
 
 " Why ? " asked Jack. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE COUMS. 
 
 " That fellow Kravosky has been in 
 and out of the room like a dog at a fair." 
 
 " What for ? " demanded Jack. 
 
 " Asking what time the young lady is 
 expected to leave the palace, so that 
 everything may be ready punctually." 
 
 " Hang the fellow ! I don't like him 
 at all," said Jack. 
 
 " Nor I," replied Owen. 
 
 " Those are just my sentiments to a 
 T," continued Bragg. " He's got thief 
 and scoundrel stamped on his face, or 
 I'm very much mistaken." 
 
 At this moment Kravosky entered the 
 room with a basket of different wines, 
 which he put on the sideboard. 
 
 " When do you expect your company, 
 sir ? " he asked, without venturing to 
 meet Jack's eye. 
 
 The fellow never could look anybody 
 in the face. 
 
 " Miss Vavasour will leave the palace 
 at half-past six, and be driven in a 
 sledge to this hotel," answered Jack. 
 
 " Then she will be here in ten minutes 
 from the time she starts," said the 
 waiter, as if talking to himself. 
 
 He was evidently calculating the 
 distance. 
 
 His eyes glanced to a handsome 
 ormolu clock on the mantel-piece, the 
 hands of which indicated that it was 
 then a quarter-past six. 
 
 " Is your clock right, sir ? " he asked. 
 
 " Of course it is," replied Jack. 
 
 " Thank you." 
 
 " Why do you ask ? " 
 
 " Because I want to have everything 
 ready." 
 
 Bowing politely, Kravosky quitted 
 the room, his napkin over his arm, and 
 the empty wine basket in his hand. 
 
 " I don't like it. Jack," cried Bragg. 
 
 " Eh ! Don't Uke what ? " 
 
 " There is something queer about that 
 man. He isn't what he seems. I'm no 
 fool. Slap-bang, and all alive ! " 
 
 An uneasy feeling took possession of 
 all three, and they were pervaded with 
 an undefined sense of coming danger. 
 
 " ^^^lat do you think ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Of course I don't want to upset you, 
 but you shall hear my idea," replied 
 Bragg. 
 
 " Well ? Let's have it." 
 
 " I believe that man to be an emissary 
 of Timor's, and that he means no good 
 to our little Effie." 
 
 Jack laughed. 
 
 " That's absurd," he cried. " I don't 
 think that for a moment. Timor and 
 Ivan have been banished, and are far 
 enough away by this time." 
 
 " You are welcome to your own 
 opinion, my boy. Slap-bang, and all 
 alive ! " said Bragg. " But I have got 
 half-an-hour before dinner, and I'm 
 blessed if I don't go downstairs and 
 keep an eye on that chap." 
 
 " Do so, if you like." 
 
 Bragg put on his fur coat and his 
 sealskin cap, after which he went into 
 the hall. 
 
 There were a few persons standing 
 about talking, as there always are in 
 Continental and American hotels. 
 
 He could, however, see nothing of 
 Kravosky, 
 
 After waiting five minutes someone 
 brushed rudely by him, and turning 
 round abruptly, he caught sight of the 
 man's features. 
 
 It was the waiter. 
 
 A great change had taken place in his 
 appearance, for he had on a thick, flat- 
 topped cap and a heavy pelisse Lined 
 with fur. 
 
 He might have been taken for an 
 ordinary citizen, or a merchant in a fair 
 way of business. 
 
 Though this transformation astonished 
 Bragg, he was still more surprised to see 
 him quit the hotel at the front entrance. 
 
 After reflecting a moment, Bragg 
 determined to follow him, as his conduct 
 tended to confirm his suspicions. 
 
 He caught sight of Kravosky walking 
 slowly along the street, and taking 
 advantage of the shadows cast by the 
 houses to keep himself hidden as much 
 as possible. 
 
 At length he came to a large square, 
 in the centre of which was an equestrian 
 statue on a marble pedestal. 
 
 It represented one of the Emperors of 
 Russia who had reigned in days gone 
 
 by. 
 
 All around it streamed the silver 
 moonlight, which fell on the white snow, 
 making it sparkle like crystal. 
 
 In the distance was the czar's palace, 
 from which a thousand lights seemed to 
 flash. 
 
 Calm, impassive, silent as a sentinel 
 on duty stood Kravosky. 
 
 Bill Bragg got on the other side of 
 
190 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 the statue, and was close to him without 
 having excited his attention. 
 
 What was going to happen ? 
 
 He scarcely dared to think. 
 
 Slowly passed the minutes, which 
 seemed like hours, and so agitated was 
 Bragg that he could hear his own heart 
 beat. 
 
 It was the calm before the coming of 
 the storm. 
 
 Kravosky peered up the road, straining 
 his eyes until they nearly started from 
 their sockets. 
 
 All at once the gates of the palace 
 opened, and a sledge, containing a lady 
 daintily wrapped in costly furs, passed 
 out. 
 
 This was Effie Vavasour, who was 
 unattended. 
 
 The distance between the palace and 
 the hotel where Jack Dashley lived was 
 so short that it was not deemed necessary 
 to send anyone with her except the 
 driver. 
 
 Bragg saw this too, and he held his 
 breath. 
 
 Unexpectedly he heard a movement 
 above him, and looking up, saw a small 
 form perched on the back of the horse, 
 behind the bronze figure of the czar. 
 
 It did not take him a moment to 
 recognise Quicksilver. 
 
 Jack had got him work as an errand 
 boy in the office of the Messrs. ICrackop, 
 Kine and Co. 
 
 It was about his time for coming 
 home from his daily duties. 
 
 That he should be on the back of the 
 horse was not at all surprising, as he was 
 always climbing up somewhere. 
 
 Bragg was afraid to speak to him lest 
 he should alarm Kravosky, who had 
 stepped a little way into the road. 
 
 The square was deserted. 
 
 On came the sledge at a gallop. 
 
 When it arrived nearly opposite the 
 statue Kravosky darted forward with the 
 speed of a deer, and drawing a large 
 murderous-looking knife from beneath 
 his cloak, sprang like a wolf on the 
 driver. 
 
 ]SIaking good his hold with one hand, 
 he employed the other to stab him to 
 the heart. 
 
 With a groan the wretched man sank 
 from his seat on to the snow. 
 
 Effie saw that something terrible had 
 happened. 
 
 The action of her heart seemed to 
 cease, her cheeks became bloodless, and 
 she fainted dead away. 
 
 Bill Bragg now comprehended what 
 was going on, and saw why Kravosky 
 had been hiding by the statue. 
 
 It was an intended abduction. 
 
 " Stop, you villain ! " he shouted, 
 running up to the sledge. 
 
 The horse, which was a well-trained 
 animal, had stood perfectly still when its 
 driver fell. 
 
 Kravosky was gathering up the reins 
 when Bragg approached. 
 
 " Fool ! " he hissed, between his 
 clenched teeth, "will you rush upon 
 your fate ? " 
 
 " Come down from there." 
 
 Kravosky still held the ensanguined 
 knife in his hand. 
 
 With unerring aim he hurled it at 
 Bragg, who received it full in his right 
 breast. 
 
 " Oh, heaven ! I am killed ! " he 
 murmured as he sank back. 
 
 Now Kravosky was at liberty to 
 proceed without any further interrup- 
 tion, and urging on the horse with voice 
 and whip, he sped along over the frozen 
 snow. 
 
 He took one glance over his shoulder 
 at Effie. 
 
 She, poor child, was quiet enough. 
 
 With an internal chuckle, Kravosky 
 disappeared round the com«r of the next 
 street. 
 
 Quicksilver had been an amazed 
 spectator of this exciting scene, which 
 he was quite at a loss to understand. 
 
 What did it all mean ? 
 
 One fact was patent, and that was, 
 that two apparently dead bodies were 
 lying on the snow. 
 
 He got off the bronze horse, climbed 
 down with his accustomed agihty, and 
 proceeding to the spot, examined the 
 coachman first. 
 
 There was no doubt about his con- 
 dition. 
 
 " Dead as mutton ! " said Quicksilver. 
 " Now for the other." 
 
 He walked over to where Bragg was 
 groaning in great agony, for the pain he 
 suffered was intense. 
 
 " Why, bless me," he added, as the 
 moonlight fell on the pale, convulsed, 
 upturned face, looking so ghastly, " it's 
 I ]Mr. Bragg." 
 
THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 191 
 
 The latter heard this remark, being 
 perfectly sensible. 
 
 He was tugging hard at the handle of 
 the knife, which he wanted to pull out 
 of the wound. 
 
 But he had not the strength. 
 
 " Who are you ? " he asked. 
 
 " Quicksilver." 
 
 " Thank Heaven for that ! Draw this 
 knife out." 
 
 " If I do you will bleed to death." 
 
 " It hurts so." 
 
 Quicksilver was right in refusing to 
 extract the knife, because if he did so a 
 rush of blood would have ensued which 
 might have proved fatal. 
 
 His judgment was correct, though he 
 had no knowledge of surgery. 
 
 " Get me home, where I can see a 
 doctor," said Bragg. 
 
 " That's more like it." 
 
 Quicksilver looked excitedly up and 
 down the road, and seeing a drosky 
 coming along at a slow pace, he waved 
 his arms wildly, and shouted loudly to 
 the driver for help ! 
 
 The drosky drove up, and getting 
 Bragg on his legs. Quicksilver had him 
 placed inside the vehicle and driven to 
 the " Prospect Hotel." 
 
 By the aid of a couple of waiters 
 Bragg was taken upstairs. 
 
 Great was the surprise of both Jack 
 Dashley and Owen Tudor when they saw 
 his helpless condition, the cadaverous- 
 hue of his face, and the handle of the 
 knife sticking out of his breast. 
 
 He sank into an easy-chair, faint and 
 feeble. 
 
 His countenance was distorted by 
 agony, and he could not restrain his 
 feehngs, which forced bitter, scalding 
 tears down his palUd cheeks. 
 
 " Brandy and a doctor," he exclaimed, 
 in a tremulous voice. 
 
 " Run for a medical man," said Jack 
 to-one of the waiters. " I will give him 
 the spirit." 
 
 He poured some brandy into a 
 tumbler and Bragg drank it with 
 avidity. 
 
 " Now, how did this happen ? " asked 
 Jack. 
 
 " I saw it all and could not stop it," 
 answered Bragg. 
 
 " Are 3'ou well enough to talk ? " 
 
 " I think 80. It was Kravosky. He 
 stopped the sledge, killed the driver, 
 
 and ran ofif with Effie. I got stabbed. 
 It wasn't my fault, .Jack." 
 
 " Yours ? I should think not." 
 
 " Don't blame me, dear old boy. Slap- 
 bang, you know, no coward, and all 
 that." 
 
 " Not I ; but Effie " 
 
 " Has been carried off— I know not 
 where." 
 
 The exertion caused by talking, and 
 the heat of the room, caused Bragg to 
 become insensible. 
 
 They thought he was dead, and their 
 anxiety was very great until the doctor 
 arrived. 
 
 He was well supplied with lint and 
 bandages, but he had the patient con- 
 veyed to his bed before he removed the 
 knife. 
 
 This operation was performed with- 
 out difficulty, and though the stab was 
 a serious one, it had not penetrated deep 
 enough to touch a vital part. 
 
 The blood was promptly staunched, 
 and a nurse being sent for, Bragg was 
 left in her charge. 
 
 Jack and Owen returned to the dining- 
 room ; on the table was the dinner, but 
 they had small appetite for it. 
 
 After what had happened this was 
 scarcely to be wondered at. 
 
 Quicksilver, who was treated by the 
 boys as an equal, dining and spending 
 his evenings with them, gave his account 
 of the affair. 
 
 They went through the several courses 
 which were, one after the other, placed 
 upon the table as mournfully as if they 
 were at a funeral. 
 
 When they had finished and had lighted 
 their cigarettes, and the coffee had been 
 brought in, they began to talk. 
 
 " We have to thank Timor for this," 
 observed Jack, thoughtfully. 
 
 " There can be no doubt about that," 
 rephed Owen. 
 
 " Then it follows that he can't be so 
 far away from St. Petersburg as we all 
 seemed to think." 
 
 " Foxes have holes," said Owen. 
 
 " I'd like to find out the hole of the 
 Russian fox. If I wouldn't give it 
 him ! " cried Jack. 
 
 " Don't excite yourself," interrupted 
 Owen ; " our turn will come." 
 
 "When?" 
 
 " Perhaps sooner than you imagine." 
 
 .lack leant over the table and buried 
 
192 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 his face in his hands, being overcome by 
 his emotion. 
 
 He felt the disaster acutely, for he 
 knew that Effie had a terrible time 
 before her. 
 
 Timor was of an age to marry, and 
 would stick at nothing to accomplish his 
 purpose. 
 
 Owen Tudor went up to Jack and 
 patted him gently on the shoulder in a 
 kindly manner. 
 
 " Cheer up, old man," he said. 
 
 Jack looked up, and his voice was 
 choked by emotion. 
 
 " Don't give way," continued Owen. 
 
 "I can't help it," replied Jack. 
 
 " We will find her." 
 
 " Do you really think so ? " 
 
 "No fear; we will hunt that rascal 
 Timor down. He has incurred the dis- 
 pleasure of the emperor, and as soon as 
 we find a clue " 
 
 Owen paused, for he saw a man gaunt 
 and ghastly, who looked as if he had 
 suffered much, standing in the doorway. 
 
 " And I will help you," exclaimed the 
 man. 
 
 They looked at him curiously. 
 
 " Who are you ? " demanded Jack, 
 rousing himself from his lethargy. 
 
 The man stepped into the room. 
 
 " Osman, the spy," he answered. 
 
 Jack knew his features, and tried to 
 recollect where he had seen him. 
 
 " I know you," he said. " Where 
 have I met you ? " 
 
 "No matter. I want to be your 
 friend. I have seen Timor, Prince of 
 Moscow. I know where he is. I know 
 where Ivan, Duke of Cronstadt is ; they 
 have made me their enemy. I have 
 heard of the outrage committed this 
 evening by Kravosky, and I can tell you 
 where Miss Vavasour has been taken." 
 
 Jack was completely taken aback. 
 
 "Is this a part of the plot?" he 
 asked. 
 
 " Heaven forbid," replied Osman. " I 
 may have been bad. I admit I have 
 been paid by the police, but I swear, as 
 I hope for salvation hereafter, that I will 
 serve you faithfully." 
 
 "Why ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Because I hate Timor." 
 
 " ^^^ly again ? " 
 
 " He has done me a great injury — that 
 is enough. Do not ask me too many 
 questions. All that concerns you is that 
 
 I am your friend and will help you all I 
 can." 
 
 Owen Tudor threw his cigarette in 
 the fire and rose up. 
 
 " I like this man and believe in him," 
 he exclaimed. 
 
 " But he says he is a spy," answered 
 Jack. 
 
 " If he can tell us where Timor is that 
 makes no difi"erence," replied Owen. 
 " No one but Timor would have hired 
 Kravosky to carry Effie oflf." 
 
 Osman put his hand in Jack's. 
 
 "Without fee or reward," he said, " I 
 will conduct you to-morrow to the cave 
 of the Nihilists." 
 
 " Is Timor one of them ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Yes, and Ivan also." 
 
 " We ought to see the chief of the 
 police." 
 
 " If you accept my oflfer, we can see 
 him to-morrow. Give me shelter here 
 to-night, and let me have food." 
 
 "Food?" 
 
 " Yes. I have eaten nothing for two 
 days, and have not a kopeck in my 
 pocket," answered Osman. 
 
 Jack was greatly shocked. 
 
 He had no idea the man was hungry. 
 
 Getting up, he rang the bell and told 
 Osman to order what he wanted, for that 
 there was plenty of everything down- 
 stairs. 
 
 Osman ordered the waiter to bring 
 him anything he had handy, and when 
 the food arrived he ate like a famished 
 wolf. 
 
 When at length his hunger was 
 satisfied he rose from the table with a 
 sigh of relief. 
 
 "Gentlemen," he exclaimed, "you 
 must excuse my voracity ; but that is 
 the first good meal I have eaten for 
 more than a month." 
 
 Jack handed him a cigar, and sinking 
 into a chair, he stretched out his legs 
 before the stove and began to smoke. 
 
 At this juncture a domestic entered 
 the room, bearing a card on a silver 
 salver. 
 
 Looking at it. Jack said — 
 
 " Irkontok." 
 
 " The chief of the police ! " echoed 
 Owen. " What does he want ? " 
 
 " Perhaps he has heard of the out- 
 rage ? " 
 
 "Most likely," said Osman. 
 
 " Show him up," cried Jack. 
 
No. 13. 
 
OR, TUE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CniMS. 
 
 ]Uo 
 
 In a few moments Irkontok entered 
 the room, and Jack offered him a 
 chair. 
 
 " Yonarenotan altogether unexpected 
 visitor," he remarked. 
 
 •'The dead body of the emperor's 
 coachman, who was driving Miss Vava- 
 sour to your hotel, has been found in 
 the square," replied Irkontok. 
 
 '' I am aware of it." 
 
 " What does it mean ? " 
 
 " Simply that an emissary of Timor's 
 has carried her off." 
 
 He related the whole story as well as 
 he knew it from Bragg and Quicksilver, 
 which raised great alarm in the breast 
 of the chief of the police. 
 
 If Timor was lurking in the neigh- 
 bourhood of St. Petersburg the czar 
 would accuse him of being remiss in his 
 duty. 
 
 The chief of the police under an 
 autocratic government is supposed to 
 know everything. 
 
 " I am puzzled," he observed. 
 
 Just then he happened to notice 
 0>;man. 
 
 " You here ? " he added. 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Wtere have you been all this 
 time ? " 
 
 " Some time at work ; some time 
 ill." 
 
 " I sent you to track the Nihilists to 
 their lair." 
 
 " And I did so," answered Osman 
 quietly. 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 " They shot me for my pains ; but I 
 recovered by a miracle almost, and am 
 here." 
 
 " That I can see with mine own eyes," 
 said Irkontok. " But where are Death's 
 Head and his companions ? " 
 
 " About twenty versts from St. Peters- 
 burg." 
 
 " Ha ! say you so?" 
 
 Irkontok's eyes lighted up with a fierce 
 pleasure which he did not take the 
 trouble lo conceal. 
 
 His usually impassive countenance 
 was radiant with delight at this unex- 
 pected intelligence. 
 
 If he could capture or kill Death's 
 Head and his desperate band he was 
 sure of a rich reward from the em- 
 peror. 
 
 His position would be secured, and he 
 would bask in the sunshine of the czar's 
 favour. 
 
 " You must lead us there to-morrow," 
 exclaimed Irkontok. " I will take with 
 me a body of Cossacks and secure the 
 whole gang." 
 
 " I want to be with you," remarked 
 Jack. 
 
 " Certainly ! I see no objection to 
 your coming, and the young lady will be 
 glad to know that you had a hand in her 
 rescue." 
 
 Osman struck Ms hand on the 
 table. 
 
 " I had nearly forgotten one thing," he 
 said. 
 
 " Name it." 
 
 " Death's Head was talking of digging 
 a subterranean passage somewhere, so 
 that if unexpectedly alarmed they could 
 all escape." 
 
 " That is embarrassing," replied Irkon- 
 tok. 
 
 "All the more so, because I have not 
 the slightest idea in what direction the 
 rascals are going to burrow," continued 
 Osman. 
 
 " Never mind ; we will do our best. 
 I must go to the emperor now. It will be 
 news to him that Ivan and Timor have 
 joined the Nihilists, and have dai-ed to 
 abduct one of the empress's attendants. 
 Still, he -will be pleased to hear that 
 there is a chance of catching them all 
 Uke rats in a trap." 
 
 " That is where your chance arrives." 
 
 The chief of the police nodded his 
 head and smiled. 
 
 Shaking hands with Jack, he told 
 Osman to come to his ofBce early in the 
 morning, when they would make all 
 their preparations for the raid on the 
 cave. 
 
 Jack slept better than he had expected 
 that night. 
 
 There was a chance of recovering 
 Effie and covering Timor with confu- 
 sino. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 EVENTS IN THE CAVE. 
 
 Akier capturing Effie, Kravosky did not 
 relax the speed at which he was driving 
 until he had got well clear of the city. 
 
 He feared jjursuit. 
 
 His attempt had been well planned 
 and well executed so far, and he did not 
 wish to run any risk of failure. 
 
 \\Tien he had got to a safe distance, 
 he stopped the sledge and got out. 
 
 The girl was still insensible. 
 
 As she had received no injury he 
 knew that she would soon recover from 
 her swoon, when her fright would be so 
 intense that she would probably shriek 
 aloud, or attempt to throw herself into 
 the road. 
 
 Taking a coil of thin rope from his 
 pocket, with which he had carefully 
 provided himself, he tied her securely 
 to her seat. 
 
 Then he remounted and drove off 
 again, but at a slower pace than before. 
 
 He did not think he should be followed 
 now. 
 
 It was fully an hour before Effie came 
 to herself. 
 
 She looked around wildly and tried to 
 move, wondering what had happened to 
 her. 
 
 It was like a horrid dream or night- 
 mare. 
 
 Slowly, as her mind became more 
 evenly balanced, recent events rushed 
 back upon it like a flood. 
 
 " Helji ! help ! " she cried. 
 
 Her voice died away in mocking 
 echoes among the gloomy pines. 
 
 " Keep still," exclaimed Kravosky, 
 "or I'll lash you with my whip." 
 
 " Who are you ? " gasped Etfie. 
 
 " Your master." 
 
 "Where are you taking me ? " 
 
 " You'll find out soon enough," was 
 the rough reply. 
 
 The girl sighed deeply and resigned 
 herself to her fate. 
 
 At daybreak Kravosky drew up before 
 the cave and gave a shrill whistle. 
 
 Instantly Timor, who had been on the 
 alert, emerged, for the whole thing was 
 carefully planned. 
 
 "Ha, my sweet little Effie," he 
 
 exclaimed, grasping her arm ; " ha^ the 
 bird come to its cage at last ? " 
 
 She gave him a look which evinced 
 the most bitter repugnance. 
 
 " You I " she said. 
 
 "Yes, my child. I could not live 
 without you," he answered. " Ivan and 
 I have joined a jovial band of Nihilists. 
 Among us is a priest. You have only 
 to say the word, and he will make us 
 man and wife." 
 
 '■ Never ! " ejaculated Effie boldly. 
 
 " We shall see." 
 
 " You cannot compel me." 
 
 " I don't know so much about that. 
 There is an instrument of torture used 
 in Russia called the knout. It has been 
 employed upon women before now, and 
 we will try it on your tender skin, my 
 dear." 
 
 " Brute ! " cried Effie in disgust. 
 
 " Call me all the uncomphmentary 
 names you like. I will have you knouted 
 if you do not consent to marry me in 
 twenty-four hours." 
 
 " Oh, Heaven ! " gasped Effie, turning 
 her eyes up to the pale gre}' sky. 
 
 She saw that she had no mercy to 
 exjject from this mau. 
 
 If he had ever had any gentlemanly, 
 humanising instincts he had long ago 
 abandoned them. 
 
 Timor assisted her to ahght, after 
 which Kravosky placed the horse and 
 sledge in a position where they were 
 safe from observation. 
 
 "Come with me," exclaimed Timor, 
 taking her hand. 
 
 She dared not disobey him. 
 
 He led her into the cave where the 
 Nihilists were, and she saw Ivan talking 
 earnestly to Death's Head. 
 
 " I tell you the emperor must die," 
 she heard Death's Head say. 
 
 Their conversation was cut short by 
 her appearance with Timor. 
 
 " Uncle," said the latter, " the lost 
 sheep has returned to the fold." 
 
 "I am happy to hear it," repHed 
 Ivan, with a meaning smile. 
 
 The Nihilists, who were lying around 
 on their beds of straw, looked up lazily 
 
OB, TOE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 197 
 
 on hearing voices, and seeing that there 
 was no danger to be apprehended, turned 
 over and went to sleep again. 
 
 They were ever watchful. 
 
 This was not surprising, for they had 
 their lives in their hands. 
 
 EflSe was conducted to a seat by 
 Timor, and Kravoskj' entered. 
 
 "These two want some refreshment," 
 remarked Ivan. " What have we got ? " 
 
 " Cold venison," replied Timor, " and 
 black bread." 
 
 « Get it out." 
 
 Kravosky placed a small table in front 
 of Effie, while Timor produced the 
 viands, plates, knives, and forks. 
 
 Effie was determined to be brave. 
 
 She knew her strength would suffer if 
 she did not eat, so she consumed what 
 they gave her. 
 
 A glass of wine was then handed to 
 her, which she drank. 
 
 " My dear Effie, you look tired," said 
 Timor. 
 
 "1 should like to rest," she answered. 
 
 " You shall do so. To-morrow we will 
 talk of our marriage. Think well over 
 B-hat I have said." 
 
 " It is useless," replied Effie. 
 
 " You must be mine," hissed Timor, 
 
 " I will not." 
 
 " We shall see. Kravosky, who is my 
 dear friend, is also a priest, and he can 
 legally perform the marriage ceremony." 
 
 Effie looked at him with open eyes. 
 
 " That man a priest ? " she exclaimed. 
 
 " Yes ; he had some trouble with his 
 bishop, and became a Nihilist, but he is 
 a priest of the Greek Chm-ch for all 
 that." 
 
 " Then Heaven help me ! " sighed 
 Effie. 
 
 Timor stamped his foot on the floor 
 and clapped his hands. 
 
 " Ola ! " he cried, " ola ! Maria ! " 
 
 The old woman who attended to their 
 wants made her appearance from an inner 
 cavern. 
 
 Her grey hair was hanging down over 
 her shoulders, and her eyes were heavy 
 with sleep. 
 
 " What is your wish ? " she asked. 
 
 "Take this lady under your charge. 
 See that she is duly cared for." 
 
 " Yes, yes ; I understand." 
 
 " If she escapes your vigilance your 
 life will not be worth a moment's pur- 
 chase." added Timor. 
 
 Tlie old hag grinned diabolically. 
 
 "I'll not close my eyes again," she 
 replied; "and if she gets out of my cave 
 she must be an accomplice of the fiend 
 himself, from whom Heaven protect 
 us." 
 
 Seizing her roughly by the arm, she 
 dragged Effie into the inner cave, which 
 contained two straw beds, on one of 
 which she threw her. 
 
 " Lay there and go to sleep," she 
 exclaimed. 
 
 " Oh, don't hurt me, please," said 
 Effie, whose wrist was bruised by her 
 violence. 
 
 " Hush ! " 
 
 *' I will be quiet if you won't hurt 
 me." 
 
 " My night's rest is spoilt by you — 
 bad luck to such " 
 
 " Don't, don't blame me. I am miser- 
 able enough without that," said Effie, 
 interrupting her. 
 
 The woman gave her a slap on the 
 face, and Effie fell back on the straw, 
 crying as if her heart would break. 
 
 While this was going on inside the 
 inner cave, Timor, Ivan, and Death's 
 Head were congratulating themselves 
 upon the success of their plans. 
 
 Kravosky, exhausted by his hard 
 night's work, had thrown himself upon 
 the hard ground, with his coat as a 
 pillow, and gone oi3f into a heavy 
 slumber. 
 
 " Effie is mine at last," said Timor. 
 
 "Don't make too sure," replied Death's 
 Head. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " There's many a slip betwixt the cup 
 and the lip." 
 
 " Oh, that's all rubbish," said Timor. 
 *' She is here. She cannot get away, 
 and Kravosky is a priest. If she will 
 not consent to be my bride I will have 
 her knouted until she does." 
 
 Death's Head did not make any objec- 
 tion. 
 
 " You can do as you like," he replied. 
 
 "What occupies my mind most," 
 remarked Ivan, "is our attack on the 
 czar." 
 
 " Yes, yes," cried the old Nihilist 
 eagerly. 
 
 " When shall it take place ? " 
 
 " In a few days. I am maturing our 
 plans." 
 
 " Time is slipping by " 
 
198 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAVS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 " Leave all to me." 
 
 There was a pause, during which the 
 three conspirators refilled their pipes, 
 which had gone out, and lighting them, 
 they smoked in silence. 
 
 " I had a bad dream last night," said 
 Ivan, " and it troubles me, although I 
 am not superstitious enough to believe 
 in omens." 
 
 " I never dream," replied Death's 
 Head. 
 
 " Let me tell you what I saw in my 
 vision." 
 
 "With pleasure." 
 
 " I fancied that Irkontok surprised me 
 in my sleep, and putting a pair of hand- 
 cuffs on me, dragged me before the 
 emperor, who ordered me to be imme- 
 diately executed." 
 
 " Nonsense," laughed the Nihilist. 
 
 " I was taken to the prison-yard. A 
 file of the guard loaded their muskets, 
 and being blindfolded I knelt down. 
 There was a loud report, and I knew no 
 more ; my mind became a blank," 
 
 "That is not likely to happen. No 
 one can find us here. Besides, we have 
 our secret mode of exit," replied Death's 
 Head. 
 
 " Is that finished ? " inquired Ivan. 
 
 •'My men finished their task this 
 afternoon. Come and look at it." 
 
 Taking up a lantern, he led the 
 way to the back of the cave, which 
 narrowed considerably by the side of 
 the inner cavern in which Effie was 
 confined. 
 
 A passage had been chopped in the 
 soft, friable sandstone which was wide 
 enough and sufficiently high to allow a 
 man to walk or run through it with 
 ease. 
 
 " Where does this lead to ? " asked 
 Ivan. 
 
 " Into the pine forest." 
 
 " Is it long ? " 
 
 " About three hundred yards. If such 
 an unlikely thing as a surprise were to 
 take place, we could reach the forest in 
 less than no time, and seek another 
 shelter which I have prepared." 
 
 " Where is that ? " 
 
 "I have had built a small wooden 
 house iu the top branches of a pine tree, 
 whose dense foliage protects it from ob- 
 servation. Large iron nails driven into 
 the trunk enable one to climb up." 
 
 " Bravo ! " 
 
 "It is supplied with provisions and 
 water sufficient for a month." 
 
 " Your ingenuity is inexhaustible," 
 said Ivan, admiringly. 
 
 "They have not christened me the 
 Revolutionary Fox for nothing," replied 
 Death's Head, with a complacent 
 smile. 
 
 They returned to their seats before 
 the stove and lighted fresh cigarettes. 
 
 Timor was too excited to sleep. 
 
 Death's Head was full of his plans, 
 and was always satisfied with a couple of 
 hours' rest. 
 
 Ivan alone looked tired and jaded. 
 
 Death's Head took up a ball of glass, 
 of which there were half-a-dozen on the 
 floor. 
 
 He regarded it affectionately. 
 
 "Every Sunday the czar drives to 
 church," he said. " One of these hand- 
 grenades, filled with dynamite, will be 
 hurled at him, and the throne will be 
 vacant." 
 
 " Is that what you mean to do?" asked 
 Ivan. 
 
 " Yes. You will be supplied with 
 one also." 
 
 " I ? " cried Ivan. 
 
 " Certainly, and Kravosky too. We 
 must be prepared at all points. If I fail 
 in blowing the tyrant to atoms, you and 
 others must play your part." 
 
 Ivan shook his head. 
 
 " I could not do it," he replied. 
 " Much as I have reason to dislike — ay, 
 to hate the emperor, I could not kill 
 him." 
 
 " You are faint hearted." 
 
 •' Possibly." 
 
 " What says Timor?" inquired Death's 
 Head. 
 
 " I don't mind hearing you talk about 
 it," answered Timor, " but I don't think 
 I should like to run the risk of throwing 
 bombs at the czar in the street." 
 
 Death's Head uttered a snarl like a 
 baffled wolf. 
 
 " Bah ! you are both cowards ! " he 
 sneered. 
 
 " Those who throw the bombs are sure 
 to be captured," argued Ivan. " It is 
 certain death to those who participate 
 in your scheme." 
 
 " What of that ? " replied the uncom- 
 promising Nihilist. " I am prepared to 
 lay down my life for the good of the 
 cause ; why are not you ? Think it 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUM3. 
 
 199 
 
 over, my sons, and let me hear from you 
 again iu a day or two." 
 
 This ended the conversation, and all 
 three went off to sleep, both Ivan and 
 Timor feeling somewhat uncomfortable. 
 
 They had not previously entertained 
 any idea that Death's Head would want 
 
 them to actively aid him in his desperate 
 plot. 
 
 Tliey were discontented, and did not 
 mind talking treason. 
 
 At the same time they evinced a 
 strong disinclination to play the part of 
 assassins. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 TOE KNOUT. 
 
 As soon as it was light next morning 
 Timor awoke. 
 
 He had not taken his clothes off, and 
 after washing his hands and face in a 
 basin of water, which was nothing more 
 than melted snow, he roused Ivan. 
 
 " Come outside, uncle," he exclaimed. 
 "The atmosphere of this place is 
 stifling." 
 
 Ivau started up. 
 
 " It was the English poet who said 
 that misfortune brings one iu contact 
 with strange bedfellows," he replied. 
 
 They walked out of the cave and 
 strolled up and down under the pine 
 trees. 
 
 The solitude was oppressive. 
 
 Not a breath of wind stirred the 
 sombre foliage. 
 
 It was freezing hard. 
 
 The sun hung like a ball of pale fire 
 in the heavens. 
 
 No birds were to be seen or heard, 
 and there was an utter absence of life in 
 the gloomy forest. 
 
 " I am getting tired of this kind of 
 life," said Timor. 
 
 " So am I," answered Ivan, " and I am 
 afraid we shall get ourselves into greater 
 trouble." 
 
 " I do not want to kill the emperor," 
 continued Timor. "Death's Head is 
 desperate; he will do anything. EflSe 
 is mine. I will make her marry me to- 
 day." 
 
 " So soon ? " said Ivan. 
 
 "If she refuses she shall feel the 
 knout." 
 
 " You would not whip her ? " 
 
 " Would I not ? " cried Timor, all his 
 Tartar blood mounting to his face. " If 
 women will not do as they are told they 
 must be made to do so." 
 
 " But it seems to me you are cruel." 
 
 "Half measures never succeed with 
 women and children. If you want to 
 rule them you must be firm." 
 
 " Well ? " ejaculated Ivan. 
 
 " To-day Effie will be my bride. Let 
 us leave these people before we compro- 
 mise ourselves any further." 
 
 " Leave them ? " 
 
 " Why not ? They have answered 
 our purpose, and they have got Effie for 
 me. You have money ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " How much ? " 
 
 " Fifty thousand roubles in paper, 
 carefully concealed on my person," re- 
 plied Ivan. 
 
 " Good. That is amply sufficient for 
 all our wants. If I recollect rightly you 
 have a castle in Poland ? " 
 
 " Right again." 
 
 " Why cannot we retire there and 
 live quietly until Death's Head either 
 kills the czar or " 
 
 " Stop," said Ivan, interrupting him. 
 " I like your idea very much, but I think 
 I can improve upon it." 
 
 " How ? " 
 
 " We will leave these Nihilists." 
 
 " Yes, yes," replied Timor, eagerly ; 
 " that is decidedly the first thing to do." 
 
 " And," continued Ivan, " we will 
 hasten to my castle in Poland ; but we 
 will write to the emjjeror and tell him 
 that there is a plot against his life." 
 
 "Ah! you would betray Death's Head 
 and his associates ? " 
 
 " I would betray anybody if it suited 
 my purpose." 
 
 Timor had no more conscience than 
 his uncle, and did not seem iu the least 
 degree shocked at the gross breach of 
 confidence and base ingratitude. 
 
 "Let me see," added Ivan reflectively, 
 "we are five versts from the 
 
200 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON! 
 
 village. There is a hotel there at which 
 we can procure a sledge which will take 
 us to the Moscow Railway, a distance of 
 ten versts." 
 
 " I see you know your geography." 
 " It is necessary to know everything 
 which may be of use to you." 
 " What then ? " 
 
 " At the end of this avenue of pines 
 is the main road," replied Ivan. 
 " I am aware of it." 
 " In four hours' time, I will be there 
 in a sledge waiting for you and Effie ; 
 if you are not there I shall drive back 
 to the inn at the village and wait for 
 you, because I shall have come to the 
 conclusion that you have not had time 
 to whip her sufficiently to make her 
 comply with your wishes." 
 
 Timor held out his hand. 
 
 " My dear uncle," he exclaimed, "you 
 are a greater genius than I have always 
 imagined you to be." 
 
 " Bah ! If a man has a head he ought 
 to know how to use it." 
 
 "Then you will not return to the 
 cave ? " 
 
 " Decidedly not." 
 
 « What shall I say to Death's Head ? 
 It will not do to let him have any ink- 
 ling of our designs." 
 
 " That would be ruinous. Tell them 
 I want exercise, and have gone out wolf- 
 hunting. Make any excuse you like. 
 Good-bye, boy." 
 
 " Don't say that." 
 
 " Why ? " 
 
 " It seems as if we were taking leave 
 of one another for ever," repUed Timor. 
 
 "Shall I say sans adieu, in the 
 French fashion, or ' stroll on ' in the 
 English style ? " 
 
 Timor laughed, and declared that it 
 did not matter, after which they shook 
 hands and separated. 
 
 Ivan proceeded towards the village, 
 and Timor returned to the cave to com- 
 mence his campaign against Effie. 
 
 The Nihilists were breakfasting. 
 
 Timor sat down with them, ate some 
 cold meat and bread, drank a cup of 
 coffee, and then sought the inner cave. 
 
 Effie had already breakfasted, and 
 looked better after the sleep she had 
 enjoyed. 
 
 It is true that her sleep was broken ; 
 she had been troubled with bad dreams, 
 for she had a haunting terror of Timor. 
 
 She shuddered visibly as he entered 
 the room. 
 
 " Good morning," he exclaimed ; 
 " Have you thought over what I said to 
 you yesterday ? " 
 
 " I have," she rejoined firmly. 
 
 " Your answer ? " 
 
 " Is what you might expect it to be, 
 a decided negative." 
 
 " You refuse to become my wife ? " 
 
 " I do," replied Effie firmly. 
 
 " Very well, we shall see." 
 
 He went to the threshold and called 
 Kravosky, who immediately replied in 
 person to his summons. 
 
 " What is your pleasure, sir ? " he 
 demanded. 
 
 " Since you were a priest I believe 
 you have been an executioner's assist- 
 ant ? " 
 
 " That was at Moscow." 
 
 "Never mind where it was. Am I 
 correct in my supposition ? " 
 
 "You are." 
 
 " Can you use the knout ? " 
 
 Kravosky smiled with a kind of pro- 
 fessional pride. 
 
 "There are some languishing in 
 dungeons with scarred backs who could 
 give me a character for that," he replied. 
 
 " Have you a knout with you ? " 
 
 « Yes." 
 
 " Go and fetch it," exclaimed Timor, 
 
 Kravosky vanished, and was gone 
 about a minute when he returned with 
 a long thong-like whip attached to a 
 small wooden handle. 
 
 Effie gave utterance to a cry of terror. 
 
 Kravosky shook the whip maliciousl}'. 
 
 "This is the best I have, sir," he 
 exclaimed. " It would not kill anyone 
 under fifty blows, but it will punish 
 severely, I warrant." 
 
 " It will do," said Timor. 
 
 Timor directed his gaze towards Effie. 
 
 "This man is priest and executioner 
 as well," he exclaimed. " He can either 
 marry us or whip you until you consent 
 or faint under the lash. Take your 
 choice." 
 
 " I will not marry you," answered 
 Effie. 
 
 " Very well." 
 
 There was a staple driven into the 
 rock. Seizing the girl rudely, he 
 dragged her up to it, and tied her hands 
 in the iron bolt, so that she stood on 
 her toes and could not move. 
 
OR, TDE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 " Strip her," he said to the attendant. 
 
 The old hag grinned as if she were 
 performing a congenial task. 
 
 " Oh, Timor, have mercy ! " sobbed 
 Effie, as the dreadful fact that she was 
 really to be tortured burst upon her. 
 
 " Your fate is in your own hands," he 
 replied. " Will you marr^' me ? " 
 
 " I cannot, for I love Jack of Eton." 
 
 Timor gnashed his teeth with rage. 
 
 " Always that accursed name," he 
 muttered. 
 
 " Spare me, as you are a man." 
 
 " No, no." 
 
 " You will be sorry for this some day." 
 
 " Never ! Kravosky, flog this girl. 
 We will make her listen to reason." 
 
 Kravosky took up a position some 
 distance off, so as to obtain a good 
 purchase on the knout, and swung it in 
 the air. 
 
 The next moment it descended with 
 a dull thud upon the back of the 
 defenceless girl. 
 
 She uttered a piercing shriek, which 
 rang through the cavern. 
 
 " Again, again ! " said Timor, relent- 
 lessly. 
 
 A second and a third time the cruel 
 knout fell upon her shoulders. 
 
 " Oh, heaven ! I cannot bear this," 
 shrieked Effie in agony. 
 
 " Consent," cried Timor, " and he shall 
 leave ofif." 
 
 *' I have spoken," she rejoined. " Kill 
 me if you like. It would be a charity." 
 
 The poor girl wanted to be put out of 
 her misery. 
 
 At this crisis a shot was heard outside, 
 and loud shouts, followed by a trampling 
 of feet, were audible. 
 
 Kravosky lowered his knout and stood 
 irresolute. 
 
 " WTiat is that ? " demanded Timor, 
 terror stricken. 
 
 " An attack I fear," rejoined Kravosky. 
 
 " We cannot be surprised." 
 
 More shots were heard in the outer 
 cave, and it was evident that some hot 
 vork was going on. 
 
 Timor became pale as death. 
 
 A few moments of terrible suspense 
 ensued, during which neither Timor nor 
 Kravosky attempted to escape. 
 
 Had they done so it would have been 
 useless, for the outer cave was filled with 
 .armed men. 
 
 Jack Dashley had arrived with Irkontok, 
 
 accompanied by a detachment of Cos- 
 sacks. 
 
 The sentries outside had been shot. 
 This was the first sound of firing which 
 had been heard. 
 
 Some of the Nihilists had been killed 
 in the cave, so sudden was the attack ; 
 but Death's Head and the majority had 
 escaped by means of the subterranean 
 
 Jack on entering the cave had lighted 
 a torch and was seeking for Effie. 
 
 At length he espied the entrance to 
 the inner cave and rushed in. 
 
 " This way, my lads," he cried. 
 
 Half-a-dozen Cossacks followed him, 
 and he rushed in, but stopped short on 
 seeing a sight which made his blood 
 boil. 
 
 Effie, his loved darling, was tied up to 
 the wall. 
 
 He comprehended the whole scene in 
 
 " You villain ! Is this how you treat 
 women ? " he exclaimed. 
 
 Timor hung down his head and made 
 no answer. 
 
 " Seize him ! " continued Jack. 
 
 Two stalwart Cossacks grasped Timor 
 by each arm and held it firmly. 
 
 In an instant Jack cut the cords 
 which held Effie to the wall. 
 
 "My poor deardarling," he murmured, 
 as he placed her on a chair. 
 
 Effie began to sob bitterly. 
 
 Her nervous system was altogether 
 upset, and she was hysterical. 
 
 " Cheer up, dearest," added Jack. 
 " It is all over now." 
 
 " Thank heaven, dear, you have come," 
 she replied. 
 
 He led her into the outer cave, and 
 gave her in charge of Irkontok, who was 
 wondering where the conspirators could 
 have gone to. 
 I "Mind her," he said. 
 
 " She will be safe enough ; but where 
 have the demons got to ? " asked the 
 chief of the police. 
 
 " I have secured Timor," said Jack. 
 
 " That is one thing ; but, confound it, 
 I am baffled. They must have a secret 
 passage." 
 
 Effie raised her eyes to Jack. 
 
 " Where are you going ? " she asked. 
 
 " Not far away," he repUed. 
 
 " Do not leave me." 
 
 " Only for a moment, sweetest. Yon 
 
202 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON: 
 
 must not witness what is going to take 
 place." 
 
 "What is it?" 
 " Timor must be punished." 
 The look which accompanied these 
 words revealed all to Effie. 
 
 " Do as you like," she replied. " He 
 is too wicked for me to intercede for 
 him. Oh, Jack, I am heart-broken. 
 Think of the shame of being whipped as 
 I was." 
 
 Jack uttered a growl like a wild beast. 
 He was burning with a fierce thirst 
 for vengeance, and he meant to have 
 it. 
 
 Of a sudden, Osman, who had guided 
 the party of Cossacks to the cave, 
 uttered an exclamation. 
 
 "I have found the vent hole," he 
 said. 
 
 " AMiere ? " asked Irkontok. 
 " Here, on the right." 
 " Follow them up. I will stay with 
 the young lady." 
 
 " After me, boys," cried Osman. | 
 
 The Cossacks hastily followed the spy, 
 who, being well acquainted with the 
 construction of the cave, had easily found 
 out the mode by which the NihiUsts had 
 escaped. 
 
 But they had a good start. 
 That indeed was all they wanted. 
 Osman, torch in hand, speedily dis- 
 appeared in the tunnel, followed by the 
 Cossacks, who were armed to the teeth. 
 
 Going back to the inner cave. Jack 
 took up some rope, which he passed 
 through the staple. 
 
 " Bring him here," he said. 
 The Cossacks dragged Timor to him, 
 the wretched young man looking more 
 dead than alive. 
 
 He well knew the fate that was in 
 store for him. 
 
 Also he was well aware that he richly 
 deserved it ; still it was very galling to 
 think that he was to be scoui-ged like a 
 dog before the eyes of his eneoiy. 
 
 Not a word of supplication did he 
 utter. 
 
 His pride would not allow him to 
 plead to Jack, besides which he felt 
 that any prayer he might make would 
 be disregarded. 
 
 With his own hands Jack fastened 
 Timor's wrists to the iron bolt and 
 deUberatel}' removed his clothes, even to 
 his shirt. 
 
 He had nothing left on him but hi£ 
 trousers, socks, and boots. 
 
 "Now, you fellow," he exclaimed — 
 "you knouter of women, display your 
 skill upon this coward." 
 
 Kravosky was always ready to obey 
 orders, and he determined to apply the 
 lash with all his strength in the hope of 
 finding favour in Jack's eyes. 
 
 " How many shall I give him, sir ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 " Knout him within an inch of his 
 Ufe." 
 
 " I can kill him if you wish it." 
 
 "No, he will have more misery in 
 living." 
 
 " You had better feel his pulse, sir, 
 occasionally." 
 
 " Why ? " demanded Jack. 
 
 "They sometimes goes off very 
 suddenly under the knout," answered 
 Kravosky, 
 
 " Go on with your work," exclaimed 
 Jack. 
 
 Kravosky took up his position again, 
 and, swinging his whip, allowed it to 
 descend on the victim's back. 
 
 jNIonotonously, with the regularity of 
 clockwork, or the steady sweep of a 
 flail, he continued the punishment. 
 
 Timor uttered low groans and moans 
 as the flesh began to Ml in strips from 
 his shoulders. 
 
 He was streaming with blood. 
 
 He felt at each stroke as if he was 
 being seared with a red-hot iron, and his 
 head ached as if a hammer was beating 
 it. 
 
 At last he broke down utterly, his 
 fortitude gave way, and he shrieked for 
 mercy like a girl. 
 
 He felt that he was being marked for 
 life. 
 
 Those terrible searing cuts would 
 never be eradicated from his back. 
 
 The tables were turned with a ven- 
 geance. 
 
 All at once, when Kravosky, who 
 counted each stroke, had said in a stony 
 voice, "Thirty," Timor had ceased to 
 yell. 
 
 His head fell upon his breast, and he 
 was still. 
 
 " Stop," cried Jack, holding up his 
 hand. 
 
 Kravosky desisted from the infliction of 
 further punishment in obedience to this, 
 command. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COI,LE(iE CnUMS. 
 
 203 
 
 Timor had fainted under the lash. 
 
 Jack felt his jiulse, which was beating 
 feebly, and saw with satisfaction that he 
 was not dead. 
 
 He cut him loose, and laid him on 
 some straw. 
 
 The Cossacks had looked on stolidly, 
 for such a scene was nothing new to 
 them. 
 
 " See that he is attended to, and guard 
 him closely as well as this fellow," said 
 Jack. 
 
 The Cossacks saluted in military style, 
 and he went to see after EfBe. 
 
 It was his hour of triumph. 
 
 No wonder he felt elated at his victory, 
 which was now more complete than he 
 had ventured to hope it would be. 
 
 Effie was reclining on a rude bed 
 made up of hay and rushes, feeling very 
 ill after what she had gone through. 
 
 Irkontok was kneeling by her side, 
 urging her to take some brandy, of 
 which they had found a good store in 
 the cave. 
 
 The horrid shrieks of Timor when 
 under the knout still rang in her ears. 
 
 " Oh, Jack, is h» dead ? " she asked, 
 as he came up. 
 
 " Not more than half." 
 
 " I am glad of that. It is well to 
 forgive one's enemies." 
 
 " It takes a good deal to kill a 
 Kalmuc Tartar like Timor," said Jack. 
 " Drink that brandy Irkontok is offering 
 you. It will strengthen you." 
 
 She drank it and sank back. 
 
 " I can go to sleep now," she 'mur- 
 mured. 
 
 Jack smoothed her forehead and her 
 beautiful glossy hair — black and shining 
 as a raven's wing. 
 
 Soon she fell into a placid slumber, 
 like a little child tired out with its day's 
 play sinking to rest. 
 
 Then Jack rose, and he and Irkontok 
 walked out into the open air. 
 
 " I am afraid Death's Head and the 
 gang have escaped," remarked the chief 
 of the police. 
 
 "But getting Effie back, and capturing 
 Timor and Kravosky, is important ; be- 
 sides, we have killed five of the villains." 
 
 He pointed to five dead bodies which 
 had been dragged out of the cave and 
 laid'on the snow. 
 
 "One of them is a fellow of ours," 
 corrected Iikontok, 
 
 " Say four, then ; that is some- 
 thing." 
 
 "Confound that man. Death's Head, 
 or, to give him his right name. Count 
 Cracow ; he always contrives to escape." 
 
 Just then Osnian, with the Cossacks 
 who had started in pursuit of the 
 fugitive Nihilists, arrived. 
 
 " What news ? " demanded the chief 
 of the police. 
 
 " We can find no trace of them, 
 excellency," answered Osman. 
 
 " Could you not track them on the 
 snow ? " 
 
 "It is frozen too hard for them to 
 leave any tracks on the surface." 
 
 Irkontok turned to Jack with a look 
 of perplexity on his face. 
 
 " I am utterly at a loss what to do," 
 he exclaimed. " These men cannot be 
 far off ; they must be in hiding some- 
 where." 
 
 " It is impossible for me to advise 
 you," Jack rejoined. " Your experience 
 is so much greater than mine that you 
 must exercise your own judgment." 
 
 While the chief of the police was de- 
 bating the question in his mind, the 
 sound of sledge bells was heard. 
 
 In the distance a sledge was seen. 
 
 Putting a field-glass to his eye, 
 Irokontok reconnoitred. 
 
 " By heaven, it is a courier of the 
 czar," he cried. 
 
 "Perhaps he is looking for us," 
 suggested Jack. 
 
 One of the Cossacks carried a hom 
 slung round his shoulders, which was 
 intended for the purpose of rousing the 
 neighbom-hood if the party lost their 
 way. 
 
 " Sound yoiu' horn," exclaimed Irkon- 
 tok. 
 
 The man did so, and as the sonorous 
 notes died away in the distance, raising 
 a thousand weird echoes, the driver of 
 the sledge turned his horse's head in 
 the direction of the cave. 
 
 When he reined in his panting steed 
 Irkontok recognised him in a moment 
 as Soltykoff, the favourite aide-de-camp 
 of the czar. 
 
 " Well met," he exclaimed. 
 
 " I thought I should never find you," 
 replied Soltykoff. 
 
 " Yet I left a plan, prepared by Osman, 
 stating precisely the direction in which 
 we were going." 
 
204 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 " It is easy enough to get lost in 
 these pine forests." 
 
 "That is true." 
 
 "I cannot stay a moment," added 
 Soltykoff. « The Grand Duke Alexis is 
 coming this way. I have to meet him. 
 It is feared that the Nihilists have a plot 
 to capture him and hold him as a hos- 
 tage. But here are despatches from the 
 emperor addressed to Mr. Dashley." 
 
 He produced a bulky document from 
 his pocket and handed it to Jack, who 
 bowed low in recognition of the honour. 
 
 " Why were they not sent to me ? " 
 asked Irkontok, a little piqued. 
 
 " Why I cannot tell. By the way, 
 what have you done ? " 
 
 " Killed a few of the Nihilists and 
 captured Kravosky and Timor. The 
 Lady EfBe is rescued, but Count Cracow 
 and the rest of the gang have escaped." 
 
 "That is better than nothing. The 
 czar will be glad to hear it. Good-bye. 
 I must away to meet the grand duke 
 and warn him of his danger." 
 
 So saying, Soltykoff shook hands with 
 Jack and Irkontok, and jumping into 
 the sledge, drove off at a rapid pace. 
 
 He was soon lost to sight in the dis- 
 tance. 
 
 Without any delay. Jack opened the 
 papers with which the emperor had 
 favoured him, and read them aloud to 
 Irkontok. 
 
 The drift of them was that private 
 information had been received at court 
 to the effect that Death's Head was in- 
 tending to capture the grand duke, 
 brother of the czar, then on his way to 
 St. Petersburg. 
 
 If Death's Head was not caught. Jack 
 and Irkontok were on no account to 
 leave the forest, but to search in all 
 directions for him. 
 
 " That decides my course of action," 
 remarked the chief of the police. 
 
 " Yes," replied Jack, " we must stay 
 here." 
 
 " I'm not at all sorry," said Irkontok. 
 
 " Why so ? " 
 
 " It gives me a chance of breaking up 
 this desperate gang, of which Death's 
 Head is the soul." 
 
 " True," said Jack. " There will be no 
 sense of security to the czar, nor in fact 
 to anybody, until he is dead." 
 
 Irkontok went to the Cossacks and 
 gave them special orders how to search 
 
 the woods and what kind of a guard to 
 keep up. 
 
 Those who had fallen in the attack 
 were buried. 
 
 After this the chief of the police him- 
 self went out into the forest to search 
 for the escaped Nihilists. 
 
 J.ick also made investigations. 
 
 Thus the day passed. 
 
 All their efforts, however, resulted in 
 nothing, and the only good thing which 
 was done was accomplished by Jack, who, 
 with his rifle, succeeded in shooting a 
 fine deer. 
 
 This gave them an ample supply of 
 fresh meat. 
 
 EflSe slept all day, and when she woke 
 up was too weak and ill to rise from her 
 couch. 
 
 She was well attended to, and ate a 
 little. 
 
 Timor was in a feverish condition, and 
 groaned deeply with the pain of his 
 wounds, which gradually stiffened. 
 
 The deer was roasted outside the cave 
 before a huge fire. 
 
 Jack superintended the cooking. 
 
 .\\'Tiile he was thus engaged a voice 
 was heard calling — 
 
 " Jack — Where's Jack Dashley ? " 
 
 " Hallo-o-o ! " replied Jack, loudly. 
 
 Guided by the voice, a form appeared 
 from amongst the trees, and to his very 
 great surprise Jack recognised Owen 
 Tudor. 
 
 He looked travel stained and consider- 
 ably worn out, as if he had had a hard 
 time of it. 
 
 " Why, Owen," said Jack, " where did 
 you spring from ? " 
 
 They shook hands cordially. 
 
 " I missed j^ou and thought you might 
 be in danger, so I got leave from Krackop 
 Kine and came after you," answered 
 Owen. 
 
 " How in the world did you find me 
 out ? " 
 
 " I can scarcely tell. You gave me a 
 description from what Osman said about 
 the place, and I am here, cold, weary, 
 hungry. Had a fight with wolves, lost 
 myself several times, fell into a hole and 
 nearly got smothered in snow. Had a 
 hard time of it, I can tell you ; but I 
 wasn't going to see you left alone." 
 
 " Thanks, old boy. I admire your 
 sentiments." 
 
 " Aren't we chums ? " said Owen. 
 
OR, TUE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 205 
 
 " Of course we are, aud always have 
 been and always will be." 
 
 " Aren't we in a foreign country ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Jack. 
 
 " Didn't we ought to stick together ? " 
 
 " That's the idea. Put it here again, 
 lad," cried Jack. 
 
 He extended his hand a second time, 
 and their palms met in a cordial grasp. 
 
 It was quite affecting to see two young 
 men have such a strong regard for each 
 other. 
 
 Owen would have died for Jack h.id it 
 been necessary, so would Jack for 0^vc•n. 
 
 " Come in aud feed ; also take liquid 
 refreshment," exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " Thank you, I will." 
 
 " I will show you the hospitality of 
 the wilds." 
 
 Jack took him inside, gave him some 
 vodka, not a bad kind of spirit, which 
 warmed him, and a few minutes after 
 the venison was pronounced ready. 
 
 First of all, Jack, Owen, and Irkontok 
 satislied theii- appetites, which were 
 made keen by the frosty air. 
 
 Secondly, Jack saw that Effie was 
 pro\-ided for, and thirdly, the Cossacks 
 were allowed to eat, after which the 
 l^risoners were fed. 
 
 " Now, old boy," exclaimed Owen, 
 " tell me all that has happened." 
 
 In a few words Jack did so. 
 
 " Bragg was right about Kravosky," 
 remarked Owen Tudor. " He always 
 said he was a villain." 
 
 " Would you like to see Timor ? " 
 
 " Hardlv," said Owen. 
 
 « Why not ? " 
 
 " Oh, I don't know. It would seem 
 like gloating over a fallen enemy. Of 
 com'se you did quite right to knout him. 
 I think, under the circumstances, I 
 
 should have had him shot. But to look 
 at him now might be Russian but it 
 wouldn't be English." 
 
 " Perhaps you are right," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 Owen rolled a cigarette and handed it 
 to Jack. 
 
 " Smoke ? " 
 
 " Like a fish," replied Jack. 
 
 " ^^^lat a queer simile." 
 
 " Shall I say like a chimney ? " 
 
 " That's more like it." 
 
 " Come inside and have a chat with 
 little EfEe. She's awfully sick, but I 
 know she would like to see you," said 
 Jack. 
 
 Owen accompanied him, and they 
 found Effie propped up on one of the 
 Cossack's great coats, eating her dinner, 
 while the soldier kindly held her plate. 
 
 " Well, Effie, how are you ? " asked 
 Owen. 
 
 " Oh, is it you, Owen ? How pleased 
 I am to see you," answered Effie. 
 
 " Do you feel any better ? " 
 
 " Yes, ever so much. But my nerves 
 are quite shattered, and I feel sore all 
 over from the beating Timor gave me." 
 
 " The beast ! " cried Owen, fiercely. 
 
 " Yes ; that is all we can call him." 
 
 " He's got it, though, and the emperor 
 will send him to the mines." 
 
 " Do you think so ? " 
 
 " Certainly ; he will be a slave in 
 Siberia. You can gamble your last 
 roulile on that," rejoined Jack. 
 
 After some further conversation, Effie 
 fell asleep again, and both Owen and 
 Jack, who were exhausted by recent 
 events, followed her example. 
 
 Irkontok posted guards outside, and 
 when darkness fell upon the cave, all 
 was wrapped in a sound slumber. 
 
 CH.\PTER XLIV. 
 
 IN THE NIGHT. 
 
 When Death's Head and his confede- 
 rates made their escape through the 
 secret passage they hurried over the 
 snow. 
 
 The tree in which they had built their 
 hiding-place was not more than a quarter 
 of a mile off. 
 
 Running with the fleetness of deer. 
 
 they climbed up the tree with the 
 nimbleness of squirrels, and were at once 
 safely concealed. 
 
 The dense black foliage of the pine 
 effectually concealed their little house, 
 which had been carefully built of planks 
 nailed to the branches. 
 
 They had no fire, and did not dare to 
 
206 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON ; 
 
 think of lighting one, for the smoke 
 ■vcould have betrayed them. 
 
 This made them suffer from the cold, 
 which, however, their thick fur coats 
 partially protected them from. 
 
 Their food was in tins, and they had 
 plenty of water in small kegs, so that 
 they were in no immediate fear of star- 
 vation. 
 
 Several times during the day the 
 Cossacks passed close by the tree, but 
 were unable to see them. 
 
 Death's Head was calm, cool, and col- 
 lected as usual. 
 
 The raid on the cave did not seem to 
 trouble him much. 
 
 Since Kravosky was captured, the 
 Nihilist next in his confidence was a 
 young man of prepossessing appearance 
 named Ural. 
 
 He had been a student in the uni- 
 versity of St. Petersburg, but, fired by 
 what he considered his country's wrongs, 
 he had, in a fit of patriotism, joined the 
 NihiHsts. 
 
 In fact, he was only a boy. 
 
 Yet he had the heart of a strong man 
 who could dare and do. 
 
 He belonged to a good family in St. 
 Petersburg, and was the idol of his 
 mother, while at the same time he was 
 the pet of his father. 
 
 Ural, young, enthusiastic, romantic, 
 had thrown himself away for an idea — 
 for a conspiracy which had assassination 
 for its object, and was wholly lost to 
 society. 
 
 Yet he had the courage of his con- 
 victions. 
 
 "Ural," said Death's Head, "I received 
 a letter yesterday from one of our agents 
 in the west." 
 
 " About what ? " asked the young 
 man. 
 
 " The Grand Duke of Alexis will pass 
 this way shortly. I have long thought 
 of capturing him and holding him as a 
 hostage." 
 
 " Is he not the favourite brother of 
 the czar ? " 
 
 " He is." 
 
 "Then it is a good idea. Do you 
 know the route he will take ? " 
 
 " I do." 
 
 " Let us capture him, by all means," 
 said Ural. "You can rely upon 
 me." 
 
 "I know it," replied Death's Head, 
 
 who always inspired a peculiar confidence 
 in all his associates. " But " 
 
 " Ha ! there is an obstacle ? " 
 
 Death's Head had paused abruptly. 
 
 "Not exactly an obstacle," he 
 answered. " But there is something to 
 be done before we get the grand duke 
 into our power." 
 
 " Something to be done ? " repeated 
 Ural. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "I never desert a friend in need," 
 said Death's Head. " Timor and Kra- 
 vosky are captured. We must rescue 
 them." 
 
 "Are they not on their way to St. 
 Petersburg ? " 
 
 "No. I have sent a scout to in- 
 vestigate. He says that Ivan is safe 
 somewhere. The chief of the police 
 remains at the cave." 
 
 " How will you do it ? " asked Ural. 
 
 " I will risk my life this night. If 1 
 fail, Ural, to you I bequeath my 
 
 " To me ! " 
 
 " Yes, my dear boy ; and I feel sure 
 that my mantle could not descend on 
 worthier shoulders," answered the old 
 man solemnly. 
 
 " You do me too much honour." 
 
 " This is a sacred mission. If I die, 
 it will rest with you to regenerate our 
 unhappy country, and I feel sure that 
 your whole heart and soul are in the 
 cause. Kneel." 
 
 Ural knelt down on the rough board- 
 ing in the presence of the few melancholy, 
 bearded NihiUsts who were left. 
 
 " Swear that you will never rest until 
 you have rid Russia of an accursed 
 tyrant," continued Death's Head. 
 
 " I swear ! " responded Ural. 
 
 " Good. If I do not return with 
 Timor and Kravosky before daybreak, 
 you will know that I have fallen into 
 the hands of the Cossacks." 
 
 " And then ? " asked Ural inquiringly. 
 
 " It will be for you to waylay the 
 grand duke, and to afterwards throw the 
 bombs which are to kill the emperor." 
 
 " I understand ! " 
 
 Death's Head pressed his hand affec- 
 tionately ; he even bent down, threw 
 his arms around his n§ck and kissed his 
 forehead. 
 
 " I am content," he muttered. 
 
 Without another word, he descended 
 
OR, THE AinENTliKKS OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 207 
 
 the tree, and reaching the ground, dis- 
 appeared from view just as the sun was 
 beginning to set on the verge of the 
 western horizon. 
 
 For a long time he wandered up and 
 down the deep glades of the forest im- 
 mersed in thought. 
 
 He was revolving mighty ideas in his 
 brain, for he really thought that his 
 • mission was to regenerate his country. 
 
 The man was a fanatic and an en- 
 thusiast. 
 
 However mistaken his ideas undoubt- 
 edly were, we must give him the credit 
 of "being sincere, and also being ready 
 to sacrifice his life for his opinions. 
 
 His creed was a bad one. 
 
 Perhaps the iron had entered his soul 
 when a prisoner for a political ofifence in 
 Siberia. 
 
 One fact must be admitted, and that 
 is that his country was woefully mis- 
 governed, and cruel injustices were 
 perpetrated every day. 
 
 The blood of the "people cried aloud 
 for reform and redress. 
 
 ^ATien it was about ten o'clock, the 
 fever of excitement fi-om which he had 
 been suffering calmed do-wn, and he went 
 towards the secret entrance to the 
 cave. 
 
 Irkontok, with all his cunning, had 
 forgotten to guard this. 
 
 He had two men with loaded rifles 
 walking up and down in front, but he 
 did not seem to apprehend any approach 
 from the rear. 
 
 In the inner cave, where Timor and 
 Kravosky were, he had placed a sentinel. 
 
 Death's Head walked along the pas- 
 sage with a sharp-bladed knife concealed 
 under the sleeve of his sheepskin coat. 
 
 He came to the first cave, and saw by 
 the light of the lamp that everyone 
 was soundly sleeping, and that neither 
 of the men he was in search of were 
 there. 
 
 Falling on his hands and knees, he 
 crawled to the inner cave. 
 
 The sentinel was leaning against the 
 wall, gently dozing, for he, like the rest 
 of the party, was exhausted, not having 
 had any sleep for twenty-four hours. 
 
 Still crawling like a snake, scarcely 
 breathing. Death's Head reached the 
 man. 
 
 In one comer Timor was lying, in 
 another Kravosky. 
 
 Rising up. Death's Head seized the 
 sentry by the throat, tightly compress- 
 ing his windpipe, and plunged his knife 
 into his heart. 
 
 The man could not utter a cry. 
 
 Not a sound was heard for fully five 
 minutes, at the expiration of which time 
 Death's Head felt satisfied the Cossack 
 was dead. 
 
 He let the body fall gently to the 
 ground. 
 
 Then he crawled as before to where 
 Timor was lying writhing in pain. 
 
 " Timor ! " he whispered. 
 
 " Who calls ? " asked Timor. 
 
 " Hush ! " replied the Nihilist, putting 
 his lips close to his ear. " Not a word. 
 I am here to save you." 
 
 Timor raised himself up on his elbow, 
 and a groan escaped him. 
 
 " I am so stiff and sore. They have 
 knouted me," he said. 
 
 " Speak low ! " hissed Death's Head. 
 
 " I will." 
 
 "We hold our lives in our hands 
 now." 
 
 " How did you get here ? " 
 
 " Ask no questions. We cannot talk 
 now. Get ready to follow me. Be satis- 
 fied to understand that I never desert a 
 fi-iend in distress." 
 
 Timor got up and stood trembling in 
 the uncertain light, while the Nihilist 
 went over to Kravosky, who was in a 
 sound slumber. 
 
 He tickled his ear gently. 
 
 Kravosky scratched it. 
 
 Again he tickled his ear. 
 
 " Confound them ! " muttered Kra- 
 vosky, waking up. 
 
 His eyes opened, and he saw the 
 familiar features of his trusted leader. 
 
 " Is it a dream ? " he asked. 
 
 " Keep quiet and follow me," answered 
 Death's Head. 
 
 So accustomed was he to do all that 
 the great Nihilist told him, that he rose 
 in a moment without asking any ques- 
 tions. 
 
 " Crawl and make no noise," said 
 Death's Head. 
 
 " But the sentry ? " 
 
 " He has gone to his last account." 
 
 « Good ! " 
 
 Timor, Kravosky, and Death's Head 
 now prepared to get out of the ciive, 
 which was not a difficult undertaking, 
 as everyone in it was asleep. 
 
208 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 They crawled into the outer cave and 
 gained the entrance to the secret 
 passage. 
 
 Suddenly EfBe woke up. 
 
 " Jack, Jack ! " she cried. 
 
 In an instant he was awake and by 
 her side. 
 
 " What is it, my darling ? " he asked. 
 
 " I have had a bad dream," she replied. 
 
 "What about?" 
 
 " I thought a snake had crawled into 
 the cave and was coiling itself around 
 you." 
 
 Jack laughed lightly. 
 
 " What nonsense, dearest ; there are 
 no snakes here," he answered. 
 
 The Nihilists were crouching in a dark 
 corner afraid to move. 
 
 " Oh ! do stay by me, I am so 
 frightened ! " 
 
 "Certainly, my love. I will sit up 
 till you go to sleep." 
 
 "You will think me foolish," she 
 said. 
 
 " No, Effie, I will not, because your 
 nerves are unsettled after what you have 
 gone through." 
 
 She put out her hand, which he 
 immediately clasped in his. 
 
 The Nihilists did not dare to move. 
 
 It was a time of awful suspense for 
 them. 
 
 For a brief space the conspirators 
 were in the utmost danger of discovery. 
 
 They scarcely dared to breathe. 
 
 After a time, however, Jack, seeing 
 that Effie had gone ofif to sleep again, 
 retired to his own rude couch. 
 
 Death's Head waited until his heavy 
 breathing showed that he was in the 
 arms of the drowsy god. 
 
 Then he moved on towards the secret 
 passage, closely followed by Timor and 
 Kravosky. 
 
 They effected their escape without 
 any interruption, and gained the tree, 
 up which Timor was assisted by his 
 companions. 
 
 Death's Head had been tortured by 
 the knout himself, so had Kravosky, and 
 also Ural. 
 
 This experience enabled them to know 
 what was best to apply to the wounds, 
 and they rubbed Timor's back with a 
 mixture of tallow and some essential oil, 
 which gave him immediate relief. 
 
 His groaning stopped, and he fell off 
 into a quiet, refireslung slumber. 
 
 Early next morning Irkontok wa3 
 awake, and went into the inner cave to 
 see if Timor's wounds had produced 
 inflammation. 
 
 He did not want him to die. 
 
 What was his surprise to see the 
 apartment vacant, and the corpse of 
 the Cossack on guard lying on the 
 floor. 
 
 It was clear that a rescue had been- 
 attempted and successfully carried out 
 during the night. 
 
 The chief of the police was furious. 
 
 He at once raised the alarm, rousing 
 every one, and was promptly joined by 
 Jack and Owen, who inquired the cause 
 of the disturbance. 
 
 Timor and Kravosky have escaped," 
 said Irkontok. 
 
 " Impossible," replied Jack, in dismay. 
 
 " The guard is murdered." 
 
 " They could not have done it them- 
 selves," remarked Owen. 
 
 " No, no ; it is those accursed 
 Nihilists, who cannot be far off." 
 
 " But how could they have passed the 
 sentry ? " asked Jack. 
 
 The sentry was called in and closely 
 questioned. 
 
 He declared that he had not moved 
 from his post or closed his eyes all night 
 long, and that no one had passed 
 him. 
 
 The fellow bore an excellent character, 
 and there was not the slightest reason to 
 doubt his word. 
 
 " Ha ! " cried Irkontok ; " the secret 
 passage." 
 
 " Yes ; that it is," answered Jack and 
 Owen in a breath. 
 
 The chief of the police struck his 
 forehead with the palm of his hand. 
 
 " I thought myself a clever man," he 
 continued, " but I am everlastingly dis- 
 graced. Fancy me omitting to guard 
 that passage! Death's Head, who is as 
 cunning as the fiend, has rescued his 
 companions." 
 
 Jack smiled confidently. 
 
 " Don't be cast down," he exclaimed ; 
 « all men are liable to make mistakes. 
 We must find them again, that's 
 all." 
 
 " But where ? " 
 
 " That remains to be seen." 
 
 " I am nearly distracted. If we do 
 not find Timor the emperor may dismiss 
 me from my post." 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON 
 
 No. 14. 
 
OK, THE ADVENTURES OK TWO COLLEGE CDUMS. 
 
 211 
 
 " We will find him. Owen and I will 
 start out. I fancy that Timor's back 
 was still bleeding." 
 
 " That is an idea." 
 
 '• If not, the exertion of walking would 
 open the wounds, and drops of blood on 
 the snow are easily seen." 
 
 The chief of the police regarded Jack 
 with an admiring glance. 
 
 " My dear sir,"' he said, " j'oa ought 
 to have belonged to my profession." 
 
 " Why ? " 
 
 " Because of your detective talent." 
 
 " Leave all to me," replied Jack. 
 ♦' Owen and I will just punish a couple 
 of venison steaks, and then get on the 
 track." 
 
 They had their breakfast, which they 
 washed down with some hot coffee, and 
 went outside to smoke their cigarettes. 
 
 The sentry had his gun at his shoulder 
 and was levelling it at some object in 
 one of the neighbouring pine trees. 
 
 Again and again he took aim, but 
 the object, whatever it was, went from 
 bough to bough so quickly that he 
 never got an opportunity to pull the 
 trigger. 
 
 " Confound the thing ! " muttered the 
 Cossack. 
 
 " 'SMiat is it ? " demanded Jack. 
 
 " May I be hanged if I know, but I 
 think it's a monkey." 
 
 " That cannot be." 
 
 « Why ? " 
 
 " Monkeys don't grow wild in Russia. 
 You have not properly studied your 
 natural history." 
 
 " But," said the sentry, scratching his 
 head in a puzzled manner, " it may have 
 escaped from some caravan. They have 
 wild beast shows at the fair of Nidjni 
 Novgorod." 
 
 " Wrong again," replied Jack. " An 
 animal of the ape tribe is used to a hot 
 climate, and could not exist in this cold 
 atmosphere." 
 
 " ^^^hat the deuce is it, then ? " 
 "That is the problem to be solved. 
 Don't shoot. I will go under the tree." 
 The soldier lowered his gun. 
 " There it is again," he cried. 
 " Where ? " asked Jack. 
 " It's coming down." 
 Jack ran up to the tree, and had 
 scarcely got under its branches, when 
 something jumped down, alighting on 
 his shoulders. 
 
 It caused him to fall to the ground. 
 " Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed someone in 
 an elfish manner. 
 
 Getting up Jack saw Quicksilver, who 
 was grinning all over his face. 
 
 " What, you here ? " he exclaimed. 
 "Yes, Master Jack," replied the 
 boy. 
 
 *' You imp ! Confound you ! don't do 
 that again. My back aches." 
 
 " I'm very sorry," said Quicksilver. 
 " How did you get here ? " 
 " I made inquiries and tramped it. 
 I wasn't sure of the place after all, so I 
 got into a tree." 
 " You always do." 
 
 "That fellow," continued Quicksilver, 
 pointing to the Cossack, " nearly potted 
 me. He would have done it if I hadn't 
 dodged." 
 
 " Well, I'm glad to see you," said 
 Jack. "Come inside." 
 
 "I want some grub and a warm up." 
 " You shall have it." 
 Jack took him into the cave and 
 introduced him to Irkontok, after which 
 the boy ate a big breakfast, for he was 
 nearly starved. 
 
 While he was gratifying his appetite, 
 Jack related all that had happened, and 
 stated that he was going with Owen to 
 look for Timor and the NihiUsts. 
 
 " Do you want to catch Ivan ? " asked 
 Quicksilver. 
 
 . The chief of the police was listening, 
 and his interest was at once aroused. 
 " Who speaks of Ivan ? " he inquired. 
 "I saw him half- an -hour ago," 
 answered Quicksilver ; " but he didn't 
 see me." 
 
 " Where was he ? " 
 
 " About half a mile off, seated in a 
 sledge in the main road, looking as if he 
 was waiting for some one." 
 
 "Perhaps he expected his nephew 
 Timor," remarked Jack. 
 
 Irkontok waited to hear no more. 
 What he had heard was quite suffi- 
 cient for him. 
 
 Putting a silver whistle to his hps, he 
 blew it shrilly, and a sergeant at once 
 came up, saluting his chief. 
 
 " Get ready a file of the guard, go to 
 the main road, and bring in a man in a 
 sledge." 
 
 " Yes, excellency." 
 
 " You will bring him dead or alive." 
 
 The sergeant departed, and in five 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON: 
 
 minutes the soldiers were paraded in 
 heavy marching order outside. 
 
 Each was supplied with ten rounds of 
 ball cartridge. 
 
 " JMay I accompany the expedition ? " 
 asked Jack. 
 
 " If you i>lease," rejoined Irkontok. 
 
 " Then I will do so." 
 
 " You are a regular fire-eater." 
 
 " I ? " said Jack. 
 
 " Yes ; you want to be in everything," 
 laughed the chief of the police. 
 
 "Oh," said Jack, shrugging his 
 shoulders, " I lilce a Uttle sport." 
 
 Owen looked annoyed. 
 
 " Why am I left out ? " he demanded. 
 
 " You can stay and look after Quick- 
 silver." 
 
 " Not much. I'm going with you." 
 
 " All right. Come along then," said 
 Jack. 
 
 Nothing could separate the two chums. 
 
 " And I'll take a snooze," exclaimed 
 Quicksilver, " for I have not had any 
 sleep since I left St. Petersburg." 
 
 Suiting the action to the word, he 
 threw himself upon some skins, and 
 speedily fell into a heavy slumber, from 
 which nothing less than the report of a 
 cannon would have aroused him. 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 TURNING THE TABLES. 
 
 Jack and Owen armed themselves with 
 their revolvers, and started after the 
 soldiers, who had already advanced. 
 
 They reached the road, under cover 
 of the trees, without being perceived by 
 the solitary individual who was waiting 
 in the sledge. 
 
 He had been awaiting Timor's coming 
 for two hours. 
 
 It was Ivan. 
 
 He was growing impatient, but did 
 not dare to approach the cave, as he 
 more than suspected something had 
 happened. 
 
 Suddenly he heard the click of rifles 
 being cocked, an unmistakable sound to 
 the practised ear of one who has been a 
 soldier. 
 
 Casting one frightened glance at the 
 pine forest, he saw the fur caps and 
 coats of the dreaded Cossacks. 
 
 They were already debouching upon 
 the road. 
 
 With a startled cry, he raised his long 
 whip and struck the horse violently. 
 
 The frightened animal dashed forward 
 at a gallop. 
 
 " Halt ! " shouted the sergeant of the 
 guard. 
 
 Ivan paid no attention to this com- 
 mand, but continued to lash the horse 
 furiously. 
 
 " JSIake ready, present. Fire ! " roared 
 the sergeant. 
 
 A report from six rifles was heard 
 almost simultaneously. 
 
 The horse fell in the traces, shot 
 through the heart, and the sledge came 
 to an immediate standstill. 
 
 Strange to relate, Ivan was unharmed. 
 
 He stood up in the sledge, disdaining 
 to fly, and held a pistol in each hand. 
 
 "Come on, base slaves of a cruel 
 tyrant ! " he cried. 
 
 " Surrend;! ! " said the sergeant. 
 
 " Never ! replied Ivan, boldly. 
 
 " Load ! " 
 
 The cartridges were put in the breach, 
 and the Cossacks prepared for another 
 volley. 
 
 Meantime, Ivan fired right and left 
 at his foes. 
 
 One soldier fell on the snow, which 
 was quickly reddened with his streaming 
 blood. 
 
 Owen was about to rush forward, when 
 Jack dragged him back. 
 
 " ^^^lat are you going to do ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " Take him single-handed," replied 
 the fiery, impetuous Welshman. 
 
 " It is suicidal madness. He is armed 
 and despei'ate. Leave him to the 
 soldiers." 
 
 Eeluctantly Owen Tudor allowed 
 himself to be restrained. 
 
 Again the Cossacks fired, and this 
 time Ivan sank back with a couple of 
 bullets in his body. 
 
 His career was run. 
 
 The cruel and bloodthirsty Ivan, 
 Duke of Cronstadt, who had led such a 
 
OR, TUE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 213 
 
 chequered career, had at last met his 
 fate at the hands of a few Cossacks in a 
 gloomy pine forest. 
 
 It was a strange ending to the wild 
 life of an unscrupulous schemer. 
 
 I3y the sergeant's orders the soldiers 
 tore down some pine branches and made 
 a rude litter. 
 
 The body was placed on this and taken 
 back to the cave. 
 
 It was a melancholy procession. 
 
 Irkontok had heard the firing, and 
 caine out to meet them. 
 
 " Poor fellow," he said. " But the 
 enemies of the emperor deserve no 
 pity." 
 
 He had been on intimate terms with 
 Ivan, and had received several large 
 sums of money from him. 
 
 In fact they had been acquainted for 
 years. 
 
 Long before Ivan had incurred the 
 emperor's displeasure in the first in- 
 stance and fled to England they had 
 known one another. 
 
 He ordered a grave to be dug. 
 
 The body was hastily interred, and 
 some heavy stones put over it to protect 
 it from the ravages of the wolves. 
 
 Then he sent the soldiers back to bury 
 their dead comrade. 
 
 Before, however, they could reach the 
 spot, the wolves had been at work, 
 scenting the carcase from afai-. 
 
 All that remained of the unfortunate 
 Cossack was a bleeding skeleton, over 
 which a pack of gaunt, hungry wolves 
 were snarling and fighting. 
 
 They instantly fired into them, killing 
 several. 
 
 The rest ran away. 
 
 Then the soldiers buried the skeleton, 
 and their minds went far away to their 
 poor but happy homes on the steppes of 
 the Tartary, where they lived in peace 
 before the ruthless conscription forced 
 them into the mighty army of the white 
 czar. 
 
 Jack and Owen lost no time in com- 
 mencing their search for the Nihi- 
 Usts. 
 
 It seemed to them that Ivan's pre- 
 sence in the high road was conclusive 
 proof that he knew that his friends were 
 lurking in the forest. 
 
 They started from the secret passage, 
 and saw that the snpw had been recently 
 crushed. 
 
 Following these tracks, they shortly 
 came upon spots of blood. 
 
 " We shall find them," exclaimed 
 Jack. 
 
 "Better be careful," replied Owen, 
 with more than his usual caution. 
 
 " Trust me," replied Jack. 
 
 They ^^ursued the trail until they 
 came to a grand old patriarchal tree, and 
 then all further signs were lost. 
 
 Round the tree the snow had been 
 trodden down and was discoloured. 
 
 Jack acknowledged himself puzzled. 
 
 "The tree isn't hollow," he said, 
 knocking its gnarled trunk with the 
 butt of his pistol. 
 
 "They must be somewhere about," 
 answered Owen, " Give me a light for 
 my cigarette." 
 
 While Jack was striking a light, half- 
 a-dozen wild, weird figures noiselessly 
 descended the tree. 
 
 Death's Head, Kravosky, and Ural 
 were amongst them. 
 
 Before the young men had any 
 suspicion of their proximity, for they 
 had come down on the other side, thesis 
 figures had closed in upon them. 
 
 They were seized by the legs and 
 thrown violently upon their faces. 
 
 So sudden was the attack that they 
 had no time to use their revolvers. 
 
 They were disarmed in an instant, and 
 their own pistols presented at their 
 heads. 
 
 " Rise," said Death's Head. 
 
 " Halloa ! " cried Jack. " What is the 
 meaning of this ? " 
 
 " You are our prisoners ! " was the 
 reply, in a deep, stem voice. " You 
 sought our destruction, but have come 
 to your own ! " 
 
 Jack was for a moment completely 
 dumbfounded, but, recovering himself, 
 he said — 
 
 " Where did you spring fi-om ? " 
 
 " The clouds," replied Death's 
 Head. 
 
 " So I should think." 
 
 Jack and Owen were pushed round to 
 the other side of the tree, where the 
 clamps and nails were, and told to 
 mount. 
 
 Death's Head went first. 
 
 Seeing how he progressed, they fol- 
 lowed him, half stupefied at the sudden- 
 ness of the disaster. 
 
 Their movements were accelerated by 
 
214 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON I 
 
 Kravosky, who took an intense pleasure 
 at prodding tbera with a knife. 
 
 At length, to their great relief, they 
 reached the platform in the top of the 
 tree, where the Nihilists' wooden house 
 was built. 
 
 Great was their surprise at this in- 
 genious contrivance. 
 
 Timor was sitting on a chair wrapped 
 in thick sheep skins, and looking very 
 pale and morose. 
 
 His wounds still pained him acutely. 
 
 The oil and tallow had only partially 
 alleviated his sufferings. 
 
 When he saw Jack and Owen his face 
 lighted up with a fierce satisfaction, 
 amounting to exultation, which he could 
 not disguise. 
 
 " Ha ! " he exclaimed, in a bantering 
 tone. " Is this really my old friend 
 Jack and my equally esteemed acquaint- 
 ance, Owen ? " 
 
 Jack folded his arms. 
 
 " You ought to know me," he re- 
 plied. 
 
 " And I know the Welsh goat too." 
 
 " You had better let us go," said Jack, 
 " and I will use my influence with the 
 emperor for all of you." 
 
 Timor laughed in a sepulchral man- 
 ner. 
 
 " My dear fellow, do you take us for 
 children ? " he asked. 
 
 " Oh, dear, no." 
 
 " Do you imagine that I am destitute 
 of feeling, and that I do not possess that 
 leading passion, revenge ? " 
 
 « WeU ? " 
 
 *' You were kind enough to have me 
 knouted until I fainted under the 
 lash." 
 
 "That was because you whipped a 
 girl." 
 
 " No matter. I cannot return the 
 compliment, because we have no such 
 instrument of torture here as a knout, 
 and do not possess the means of making 
 one, but " 
 
 He paused abruptly and seemed to be 
 thinking. 
 
 " Heaven has delivered them into our 
 hands," said Death's Head. 
 
 There was an awkward silence. 
 
 Timor at length spoke. 
 
 " I will think of various modes of 
 torturing you both," he exclaimed at 
 length ; " but at present I have only 
 hit upon one espedient." 
 
 " Let me hear it," said Death's Head. 
 
 " Take them outside the hut and tie 
 a rope . ) their wrists, fasten the rope to 
 a boii^!i and let them hang in the 
 air." 
 
 " Excellent ! " replied Death's Head. 
 
 Jack and Owen felt the perspiration 
 come out in clammy beads on their fore- 
 heads. 
 
 It was an awful punishment. 
 
 Before they had time to think about 
 it, they were rudely grasped by Kravosky 
 and Ural, who fastened the cords round 
 their wrists. 
 
 They were then led out into the cold 
 frosty air and lowered from a bough of 
 the tree. 
 
 The rope was made faot, and they 
 dangled in the air with the cold east 
 wind biting their faces. 
 
 This was Timor's Revenge. 
 
 The whole weight of their bodies hung 
 upon their wrists and arms, which as 
 they swung to and fro in the breeze soon 
 began to ache fearfully. 
 
 They suffered the most excruciating 
 pain. 
 
 It was like being racked. 
 
 They felt as if their arms would be 
 torn out of the sockets, and thefr faces 
 were convulsed with agony. 
 
 Neither of them could speak. 
 
 They could only look at one another 
 with sympathetic glances. 
 
 Presently low moans were wrung from 
 them in their agony. 
 
 Timor opened the door of the hut, and 
 hanging on to a bough, looked upon his 
 victims with an expression of diabolical 
 delight. 
 
 " How long do you intend to keep 
 them there ? " asked Death's Head. 
 
 " Until they have lost all strength to 
 howl," he replied. 
 
 " They seem to be suffering enough." 
 
 "Not half enough for me," hissed 
 Timor. 
 
 " Hark at their cries." 
 
 " Let the dogs yell. I'll hang them 
 by the heels, head downwards, next." 
 
 " That would kill them." 
 
 " And a good job too," answered Timor 
 savagely. 
 
 He re-entered the hut and shut the 
 door, for the wind was searchingly cold 
 and bit shrewdly. 
 
 Jack and Owen gave themselves up to 
 despair. 
 
OK, THE IDVENIURES OK TWO COLLKOli CUUM3. 
 
 215 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 THE GRAND DUKE. 
 
 When the door was shut Death's Head 
 sat down by the side of Timor. 
 
 " I must depart to intercept the Duke 
 Alexis," he said. " Shall you accompany 
 me?" 
 
 " No. T am not well enough," replied 
 Timor. 
 
 " Will you ni''d the prisoners ? " 
 
 " I can do that." 
 
 " Do you think I shall see anything 
 of Ivan on the way ? " 
 
 Timor was of the opinion that he 
 would not, because Ivan would take the 
 alarm at being kept waiting, and hasten 
 to his estates in Poland, leaving Timor 
 to follow him as he best could. 
 
 " Shall I leave anyone with you ? " 
 added Death's Head. 
 
 " Leave Kravosky." 
 
 " Very well ; the others shall accom- 
 pany me. If I am not back by dusk, 
 you will know that I am either dead or 
 captured." 
 
 " By the way," exclaimed Timor, "did 
 you search the prisoners ? " 
 
 " We did not." 
 
 " It ought to be done ; you might find 
 something important on them. Have 
 them brought in, bind them, and I can 
 amuse myself by kicking them." 
 
 Death's Head at once ordered the 
 unfortunate captives to be hauled up. 
 
 They were laid on the floor more dead 
 than alive, every muscle and sinew in 
 their bodies aching terribly. 
 
 There was no chance of their running 
 away or showing fight, for they found it 
 impossible to move. 
 
 Ural searched them. 
 
 The papers sent to Jack by the courier 
 Soltykoflf from the emperor were found 
 upon him. 
 
 Death's Head opened them with the 
 utmost impatience. 
 
 " Ah ! " he said, as he hastily ran his 
 eye over the despatch, " the Grand 
 Duke is on the way. I shall intercept 
 him at the cross roads." 
 
 " Where ai-e they ? " inquired Timor. 
 
 " Xot five miles from here. There is 
 a posting-house where they will stop to 
 change horses." 
 
 " What will you do with him if you 
 apture him ? " 
 
 "He is the czar's favourite brother, 
 and to ransom him he will grant the 
 reforms we ask for." 
 
 Timor shook his head as if he did not 
 quite believe this, but Death's Head 
 was satisfied that the course of action 
 he was pursuing was correct. 
 
 Both Jack and Owen were securely 
 bound, and left to the tender mercies of 
 Timor and Kravosky. 
 
 The others took their departure to 
 intercept and capture the Grand Duke. 
 
 WTien Death's Head and his followers, 
 who, including Ural, were six in 
 number, descended from their eyrie, 
 they made a detour to avoid the cave. 
 
 It would never have done to encounter 
 Irkontok and his Cossacks. 
 
 By a devious route they reached the 
 main road and proceeded to the spot 
 known as the cross roads. 
 
 Here two roads met, and for the 
 accommodation of travellers a road home 
 or hotel had been erected. 
 
 It was very convenient for travellers 
 coming to the city, for they could 
 indulge in refreshment and have a rest 
 while fresh horses were being attached 
 to their carriages. 
 
 When Death's Head and his fellow 
 conspirators arri\ed they heard the 
 jingling of bells and saw a sledge 
 approaching. 
 
 It was driven by one man, while 
 inside were two persons, one a boyish- 
 looking man, apparently about twenty- 
 five years of age, who was the Grand 
 Duke Alexis, the other being SoltykofiF. 
 
 They had no guard or escort of any 
 kind. 
 
 Hearing the bells and being warned 
 previously by Soltykoflf of the grand 
 duke's expected coming, the landlord 
 and three servants came out. 
 
 They stood bareheaded on the steps 
 to welcome their distinguished guest. 
 
 The sledge drove up. 
 
 Suddenly Death's Head and the 
 members of his band sprang into the 
 road with their pistols levelled. 
 
THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON J 
 
 "Villains!" cried Soltykoff, "what 
 do you want ? " 
 
 The Nihilist chief discharged his 
 pistols, and Soltykofif fell bathed in 
 blood upon the bottom of the sledge. 
 
 Seeing this, the landlord of the inn 
 and his men ran into the house. 
 
 Even their loyalty was not proof 
 against a sudden irruption of bandits. 
 Life was sweet. 
 
 They did not want to be shot on 
 short notice. 
 
 The grand duke bore himself as 
 became one of his race, and, although 
 his lips quivered, he did not show any 
 fear. 
 
 Drawing a pistol, he aimed it at 
 Death's Head and pulled the trigger. 
 
 The cap was damp ; it snapped, and 
 the pistol did not go ofif. 
 
 Next moment the Nihilist, with a 
 fierce cry, precipitated himself upon the 
 grand duke, and seizing him by the 
 throat, bore him to the bottom of the 
 sledge. 
 
 They were well matched. 
 A desperate struggle ensued, in which 
 it was difEcult to tell which would get 
 the advantage. 
 
 The driver of the sledge sat perfectly 
 still, reining in his horse, thinking no 
 doubt that as a non-combatant his life 
 would be respected. 
 
 By an accident the Duke Alexis got 
 the Nihilist under him, and pressed his 
 hands upon his throat. 
 
 His eyes started out of his head, and 
 he breathed with difficulty. 
 
 Ural did not know what to do. 
 '^ If he fired he might kill his chief, and 
 he stood irresolute. 
 , ^ " Drive on," cried the duke. 
 
 The man was only waiting for orders, 
 and he whipped up his horses, speeding 
 them over the snow-covered ground. 
 
 When Ural saw that Death's Head 
 was captured and being rapidly borne 
 away from him he fired at the driver. 
 
 His example was followed by those 
 with him, but then: efi'ort to stop the 
 sledge came too late, and by a miracle 
 the driver escaped the storm of bullets. 
 The leaden hail neither touched him 
 nor his horse. 
 
 As the Grand Duke was kneeling at 
 the bottom of the sledge and bending 
 over Death's Head, it was not surprising 
 that they escaped unhurt. 
 
 In vain the baffled Nihilists ran after 
 the sledge. 
 
 SoltykofTs body had fallen out, and 
 the Duke Alexis had a clear field. 
 
 When he had nearly choked the life 
 out of Death's Head, he tied his hands 
 and feet with handkerchiefs and placed 
 his feet on his chest. 
 
 Able to breathe once more, the 
 Nihilist looked up with bloodshot eyes. 
 
 " What are you going to do with me ? " 
 he asked in a faint voice. 
 
 "You will see," replied the duke, 
 oracularly. 
 
 " For pity's sake, kill me." 
 
 " Death is too good for such as you." 
 
 " Do you know who I am ? " 
 
 "No. I simply know that you are a 
 cowardly assassin, but my brother, the 
 emperor, may be better acquainted with 
 you." 
 
 " Shall you take me to him ? " 
 
 " At once." 
 
 " Then my fate is sealed," replied 
 Death's Head. 
 
 He knew that he had no mercy to 
 expect from the emperor, and he resigned 
 himself to the inevitable death which 
 was in store for him. 
 
 The man did not shed tears or beg for 
 mercy. 
 
 For years he had held his life in his 
 hand, and had expected what was coming. 
 
 He had, if we may use the expression, 
 doubly courted death; and it must be 
 said for him, to his credit, that he did not 
 dread it when it stared him in the face. 
 
 His belief was that he was a patriot, 
 in the truest sense of the word. 
 
 Horace says it is sweet and proper to 
 die for one's country, and the Nihilist 
 did not begrudge giving his life to the 
 good cause. 
 
 " Let me get up," said Death's Head, 
 "and sit opposite you. It will not 
 advantage you to keep me like a slave 
 under j'our feet." 
 
 " Stay where you are," was the stern 
 reply. 
 
 " Is there no mercy in the house of 
 Romanoff ? " 
 
 " None for such as you." 
 Death's Head was silent after this, for 
 he was perfectly helpless, and knew that 
 if he talked any more he would only be 
 wasting his breath. 
 
 It took the jaded horse fully foui 
 houi-s to reach St. Petersburg. 
 
OR, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CDUMS. 
 
 217 
 
 TNTien the driver entered the city he 
 turned round and touched his cap. 
 
 " To the palace, your royal highness? " 
 he asked. 
 
 " To the prison," was the reply. 
 
 The man at once drove to the gloomy 
 fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul, where 
 the political prisoners were incarcerated. 
 
 A few words spoken to the sentry at 
 the gate caused the doorway to be 
 opened, and they entered. 
 
 The governor was summoned, and 
 promptly came forth. 
 
 He was a little, stout, grizzled man, 
 who had seen service on many a battle- 
 field before he was appointed to the post 
 he then held. 
 
 Instantly recognising the grand duke, 
 he doffed his hat and stood in respectful 
 silence. 
 
 "I have brought you a prisoner," 
 said Alexis. " He tried to assassinate or 
 capture me, I do not know which, and I 
 have reason to suspect that he is con- 
 nected with a desperate* band of 
 Nihilists." 
 
 The governor of the fortress looked 
 closely at Death's Head. 
 
 " I know this man," he exclaimed. 
 
 « Who is he ? " 
 
 "The Count of Cracow, a most 
 desperate enemy of the government." 
 
 " Indeed." 
 
 " You have made a most important 
 capture, your royal highness, and for 
 which your imperial brother will thank 
 you greatly." 
 
 " Cracow ? " repeated the grand duke. 
 " Was he not implicated in the Polish 
 rising under Langievitsck ? " 
 
 " The same." 
 
 " Keep him closely guarded and 
 prepare to apply the torture." 
 
 " I will be ready." 
 
 " He must confess." 
 
 Death's Head smiled contemptuously. 
 
 " You may tear me limb from Umb 
 as the Bourbon did Damirus," he said, 
 " but you will extort nothing from me." 
 
 " Wait," said the prince. 
 
 " I defy you," cried Death's Head. 
 
 " Away with him." 
 
 Death's Head was hurried into the 
 prison, and the grand duke, jumping 
 into his sledge, was driven to the Winter 
 Palace, as fast as the tired horses could 
 take him. 
 
 For an hour the Nihilist was left alone 
 
 in a cell to indulge in his reflections, 
 which were not of the most agreeable 
 character. 
 
 This can be readily imagined. 
 
 At the expiration of that time two 
 warders brought in a galvanic battery, 
 which they placed in a coi-ner. 
 
 The Ley den jars were carefully charged 
 with sulphuric acid. 
 
 Death's Head was placed in a chair and 
 securely bound to it, so that he could 
 not move. 
 
 He regarded these preparations curi- 
 ously. 
 
 " What does this mean ? " he asked. 
 
 "Put no questions," was the curt 
 reply. 
 
 \\1ien all was in readiness the door 
 was thrown open, and four people 
 entered. 
 
 One was the governor of the prison, 
 the second, the public executioner, the 
 third, the Grand Duke Alexis, and the 
 fourth, no less a personage than the 
 Emperor Alexander himself. 
 
 " Ha, tyrant ! " cried Death's Head. 
 
 "Apply the torture," said the czar 
 calmly. 
 
 The executioner went to the galvanic 
 apparatus, and taking up two wires, 
 attached them to the feet of the 
 prisoner. 
 
 He then returned to the machine 
 and began to vigoi-ously turn a handle, 
 which generated the electricity. 
 
 Every turn sent a shock through the 
 prisoner's body, and every fresh turn 
 increased the intensity of the stinging 
 pain. 
 
 " Oh, oh ! Stop ! " said Death's Head, 
 who felt as if his frame was being shat- 
 tered to pieces. 
 
 " Confess where your accomplices 
 are ! " exclaimed the emperor. 
 
 The Nihilist simply groaned. 
 
 Making a sign the emperor caused the 
 executioner to continue his ghastly work, 
 in which he had paused. 
 
 " I cannot bear it," cried Death's 
 Head. 
 
 " Confess." 
 
 " This is monstrous. Do you call this 
 civilization — when a man is tortured 
 privately in a dungeon ? " 
 
 " Confess," said the emperor, a third 
 time. 
 
 « I will." 
 
 There was a pause. 
 
218 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON; 
 
 "Speak." 
 
 *' Twenty-five miles from St. Peters- 
 burg, on the Eastern Road, there is a 
 rock; this rock is hollow. You will 
 know it by a group of nine pine trees 
 standing in front. It is only a verst 
 distant from Galatz, a small village of 
 fifty inhabitants. Push open the door 
 of this cavern, and you will find my 
 friends." 
 
 The czar made an entry of these in- 
 structions in his note-book. 
 
 " Is that all you have to say ? " he 
 inquired. 
 
 " It is aU." 
 
 "Count Cracow," added the czar, 
 " your confession will not save your 
 life. You have offended too deeply for 
 that ; but it will spare you further suffer- 
 ing." 
 
 " Let me live! Send me to the mines 
 if you like, but " 
 
 "It cannot be. You have escaped 
 once fiom Siberia, and you have 
 attempted my life, consequently your 
 life is justly forfeited to the state." 
 
 " Life ! Life ! " cried the Nihilist. 
 
 " Impossible. You shall die quickly; 
 that is all I can promise you." 
 
 The emperor turned to the execu- 
 tioner. 
 
 " Put on the full force of the battery, 
 and end his misery at once," he com- 
 manded. 
 
 The executioner placed some more 
 jars in the battery, arranged his wires, 
 and once more shai'ply turned the 
 handle. 
 
 Death's Head uttered a wild, piercing 
 shriek. 
 
 Death's Head's face and limbs were 
 distorted and convulsed, and then all 
 was still. 
 
 He resembled one struck by lightning. 
 
 The action of the heart had stopped 
 instantly by the increased force of elec- 
 tricity, and he was dead ! 
 
 Feeling his pulse, the executioner 
 said — 
 
 "It is all over, sire." 
 
 It was not the first time he had killed 
 a political prisoner in this way. 
 
 The dread secrets of the dungeons of 
 Russia will perhaps never be known in 
 their entirety, yet this is one of 
 them. 
 
 " Let him be buried within the pre- 
 cincts of the prison at midnight, and 
 
 leave no stone to mark his grave," ex- 
 claimed the emperor. 
 
 The governor of the prison bowed 
 low. 
 
 Casting one glance of contempt, 
 mingled with hatred, upon the rigi(i 
 corpse of the dead Nihilist, the czar 
 quitted the fortress arm-in-arm with his 
 brother. 
 
 As they were being driven to the 
 palace, the emperor remarked — 
 
 " I can breathe more freely now that 
 fellow is dead." 
 
 " You dreaded him ? " replied the 
 Grand Duke. 
 
 " So much so that I could not sleep 
 at night. " He had sworn to kill me." 
 " It is lucky I captured him." 
 " Yes, and I am deeply indebted. If 
 I can do anything for you, my dear 
 brother, at any time, you have only to 
 ask." 
 
 Alexis thanked him, and promised 
 that he would not forget this instance 
 of imperiak favour. 
 
 On arriving at the palace, the emperor 
 despatched a message to Irkontok, giving 
 him information as to what had occurred, 
 and directing him to make a raid iipon 
 the cavern of which Death's Head had 
 spoken in his dying moments. 
 
 He also sent him a detachment of 
 twenty Cossacks, fully provisioned for a 
 week. 
 
 It was not until the following morning 
 that the chief of the police received his 
 orders. 
 
 He was greatly surprised and annoyed 
 at the non-ajjpearance of Jack and Owen, 
 to whom he feared something had hap- 
 j pened. 
 
 I Effie and Quicksilver were equally 
 1 agitated. 
 
 i The latter had been looking in every 
 I direction for his young master, but with- 
 1 out being able to find the slightest clue 
 I to his whereabouts. 
 
 I It was concluded that he and Owen 
 I had fallen into the hands of the Nihilists. 
 : When, therefore, Irkontok heard that 
 j Death's Head had been captm-ed by the 
 j Grand Duke, and had confessed under 
 I torture to the exact locality of his 
 companions' hiding-place, he rejoiced 
 1 greatly. 
 
 I He could seize them all, and release 
 I Jack and Owen Tudor. 
 I Accordingly, he lost no time in orga- 
 
R, TUE ADVENTURES OK TWii COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 219 
 
 nising his expedition, and went ofiF in 
 search of the cavernous rock. 
 
 The chief of the police took with 
 him fifteen men, all armed to the 
 teeth. 
 
 This he considered an overwhelming 
 force. 
 
 Carefully studying the instructions 
 sent him by the emperor, he proceeded 
 along the western road towards the little 
 village of Gralatz. 
 
 The rock was soon found, and on the 
 right side was a wooden door. 
 
 Selecting a Cossack of burly propor- 
 tions, who was over six feet high, and 
 weighed at least sixteen stone, he ad- 
 dressed him. 
 
 " Peterkoflf," he said, " to you I shall 
 assign the honour of breaking down the 
 door." 
 
 "How shall I do it?" asked the 
 soldier, simply. 
 
 " You will throw your whole weight 
 against it, and it will burst open." 
 
 " And then ? " 
 
 "Your companions will follow you 
 closely, and you will kill the nest of 
 vipers within." 
 
 "Verv well, my captain," replied 
 Peterkoff. 
 
 It was a dangerous duty which had 
 been assigned him, for, supposing the 
 cave to be occupied by Nihilists, he 
 would receive the brunt of their fire. 
 
 Obedience to orders is, however, the 
 first duty of the Russian soldier. 
 
 He goes bUndly wherever his officers 
 send him. 
 
 It is contrary to his miHtary training 
 to ask any superfluous questions or raise 
 any objections. 
 
 PeterkoJf raised his herculean shoul- 
 ders. 
 
 He humped his back, and drew a deep 
 breath. 
 
 His companions crowded at his heels. 
 
 They were all anxious to distinguish 
 themselves. 
 
 Irkontok retreated a dozen yards or 
 so, a revolver in each hand ready to cut 
 off with a bullet the retreat of any who 
 might perchance escape. 
 
 With all his force, like a human 
 battering ram, Peterkoff hurled himself 
 against the wooden door. 
 
 It broke, its fastenings gave way, and 
 he rushed in. 
 
 All was darkness ! 
 
 Suddenly a lurid light rose up from 
 the Hoor, and an awful noise was heard. 
 
 The rock seemed to be rent asunder. 
 
 Mighty fragments rose in the air and 
 were carried great distances, while the 
 surrounding space was filled with stonea 
 and earth. 
 
 Peterkoff was blown to atoms, and not 
 one of his fourteen companions was left 
 ahve ! 
 
 Every man was killed. 
 
 The chief of the police alone was 
 spared to witness this appalling catas- 
 trophy, which made even his cheek 
 blanch with fear. 
 
 It was the last venomous effort of the 
 cunning old Nihilist. 
 
 In this cave he had stored a quantity 
 of dynamite. 
 
 He had hired the cavern from a farmer 
 under the pretence of being a potato 
 merchant. 
 
 He said that he wanted it to store 
 the potatoes he intended to buy in the 
 vicinity. 
 
 Instead of this, he placed a large 
 quantity of that fearful explosive, dyna- 
 mite, inside, and connected it with the 
 door by an electric wire. 
 
 If he wanted to enter he could dis- 
 connect the wire. 
 
 This would enable him to do so with 
 safety, but if any stranger attempted to 
 enter, the result would be none other 
 than that which had happened. 
 
 He had intended the dynamite to be 
 used in blowing up the czar's palace as 
 soon as he got an opportunity of placing 
 it there. 
 
 When urged by the czar to confess 
 where his companions were, he had 
 thought of the cave. 
 
 It was his last chance of revenge. 
 
 If he could not kill the emperor, at 
 least he could slay some of his soldiers 
 or poUce. 
 
 He had been only too successful. 
 
 As soon as he had recovered from the 
 shock which this awful occurrence had 
 given him, Irkontok looked round. 
 
 On all sides of him were burnt and 
 mutilated bodies. 
 
 Now he trod on an arm, again he 
 kicked against a leg, or nearly fell over 
 a trunk. 
 
 It was sickening. 
 
 With a drooping head he returned to 
 the other cave to communicate the 
 
220 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT EION ; 
 
 mournful intelligence to the half score 
 men he had left there. 
 
 Callous as he generally was to scenes 
 of bloodshed and slaughter, the chief of 
 the police was completely overcome at 
 this awful disaster. 
 
 He was glad when he reached the 
 cave. 
 
 The sentinel saluted. 
 
 Staggering into the cavern, he en- 
 countered EfSe and Quicksilver, who 
 were eagerly talking together. 
 
 " Vodka ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 This was the rudely-distilled spirit 
 drank by the Russian peasants, of which 
 they had found a complete store. 
 
 Quicksilver ran to the stone jar, and 
 gave him some, which he drank with 
 avidity. 
 
 " What is the matter ? " asked Effie. 
 
 "We have been both deceived and 
 betrayed," replied Irkontok. 
 
 "How?" 
 
 "Death's Head, in his dying confes- 
 sion, led us into a trap from which I 
 have escaped by a miracle." 
 
 " Indeed ! " 
 
 " All my brave Cossacks are killed." 
 
 " This is all a m^'stery to me," said 
 Effie. " Will you explain and relieve 
 my anxiety ? " 
 
 Irkontok told her all that had hap- 
 pened, at which a thrill of horror ran 
 through her sensitive frame. 
 
 " How di'eadful ! " she exclaimed. 
 " But we have something to tell you." 
 
 « We ? " 
 
 "Yes, Quicksilver and I. He has 
 made a discovery." 
 
 " Of what nature ? " 
 
 " One of the most important kind." 
 
 " I wish he could discover where the 
 remainder of Death's Head's band are," 
 cried Irkontok, bitterly. 
 
 " That is just what he has done." 
 
 Irkontok jumped about half a foot in 
 the air. 
 
 "This is the best news I have heard 
 for a long time," he said. "Tell mo 
 where they are." 
 
 Quicksilver said that he had been out 
 scouting in the forest, and had seen two 
 bodies hanging from a bough. 
 
 He did not think that bodies usually 
 grew upon pine trees. 
 
 Being a good climber, he ascended the 
 tree, and saw Jack Dashley and Owen 
 Tudor, who had been tortured a second 
 time by Timor's orders. 
 
 He spoke a few words to them and 
 retreated. 
 
 " I have been waiting for you, sir," ho 
 concluded, " to know what is best to be 
 done.'' 
 
 Irkontok reflected for a moment. 
 
 It was difficult to know what to do. 
 
 The chief of the police was placed in 
 a delicate position. 
 
 " I think I had better send a courier 
 for more men." 
 
 " If you do," replied Quicksilver, 
 " Timor will kill Jack and Owen." 
 
 " The Nihilists will fight like demons." 
 
 " Let me sui-prise them in the dead 
 of the night." 
 
 "Very well. Be it so," answered 
 Irkontok. 
 
 He had only about nine men left to 
 attack the Nihilists in their last resort ; 
 but he reckoned that if they could get 
 up the tree and take them by surprise it 
 would be enough. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIL 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 It was bitterly cold. 
 
 The wind blew cruelly from the east, 
 and seemed to freeze the marrow in his 
 bones. 
 
 Jack Dashley and Owen Tudor were 
 lying exhausted on the floor of the hut, 
 suffering acutely. 
 
 Their arms seemed out of joint] 
 
 Ural and the five remaining NihiUsts 
 were at sleep, but Timor was awake. 
 
 He was upset by the report that Ural 
 had made of the capture of Death's 
 Head by the grand duke. 
 
 Perhaps he would be put to the 
 torture and betray them. 
 
 " Wake up ! " he said, giving Jack a 
 kiclv. 
 
 " I'm not asleep, you cowardly bully," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 " I'll hang you up by your feet to- 
 
S, THE ADVENTURES OF TWO COLLEGE CHUMS. 
 
 221 
 
 morrow," cried Timor, "and that will 
 finish you." 
 
 " Mind you are not hung up by the 
 neck." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " What I say." 
 
 Timor rose from his chair, and, 
 seizing him by the hair, began to hit 
 him in the face. 
 
 " How dare you insult me ? " he 
 yelled. 
 
 Jack was bound hand and foot, so that 
 he could not retaliate. 
 
 All at once the door of the shanty was 
 broken in, and Irkontok, followed by his 
 Cossacks, entered. 
 
 They had been guided to the spot by 
 Quicksilver. 
 
 A few shots were fired, and all the 
 Nihilists were either killed or cap- 
 tured. 
 
 The surprise was complete. 
 
 They were taken down one by one and 
 conveyed to the cave. 
 
 A few words from Irkontok explained 
 to Jack what had happened, and both 
 he and Owen felt new life come into their 
 veins. 
 
 Their meeting with Quicksilver was 
 quite affecting, the boy laughing and 
 crying by turns ; as for Effie, she was 
 fairly transported with delight. 
 
 Timor had fought hard, and had been 
 wounded in the leg, but he had to suc- 
 cumb at last. 
 
 A burly Cossack seized him by the 
 thi-oat, and hurled him to the ground. 
 
 ^Mien the fight was over, the chief of 
 the police ordered Timor to be closely 
 guarded. 
 
 He was placed in the inner cave, two 
 men being detailed to watch him through 
 the night. 
 
 Gloomy and morose, Timor sat on a 
 stool, his face buried in his hands. 
 
 It was impossible for him to sleep. 
 
 Suddenly he roused himself from his 
 lethargy and looked around him. 
 
 The two guards were standing near 
 him, fully armed. 
 
 On a table stood an oil lamp, which 
 diffused a feeble light through the 
 cavern. 
 
 In a comer was a box, the Ud of which 
 was removed. 
 
 It was the ammunition box, and con- 
 tained about three hundred cartridges. 
 Timor was desperate. 
 
 Well he knew that if he was taken a 
 prisoner to St. Petersburg the emperor 
 would show liim no mercy. 
 
 He had offended too deeply to be for- 
 given. 
 
 Before the guards could divine what 
 he intended to do, he seized the lamp, 
 and hurled it with all his force into the 
 box. 
 
 It broke into fragments, and the oil 
 took light, communicating fire to the 
 cartridges, which at once exploded. 
 
 The bullets flew about in all divec- 
 tions. 
 
 Timor was the first to fall a victim. 
 A dozen balls entered his body, and 
 he sank a corpse upon the floor. 
 
 The guards were speedily killed, and 
 when the occupants of the outer cave 
 rushed in to ascertain the cause of the 
 firing, they were terrified to see what 
 had happened. 
 Timor was dead ! 
 
 They could only guess at the cause of 
 the disaster, for neither prisoner .lor 
 guards Uved to tell the tale. 
 " He is gone," said Jack. 
 " Perhaps it's as well that it shouid 
 be so," remarked Owen. 
 
 " He has brought it on hiriself." 
 " Yes ; may heaven be more merciful 
 to him than he was to others." 
 
 " Amen to that," replied Jack, bowing 
 his head. 
 
 In the presence of death all his 
 
 resentment towards his enemy vanished. 
 
 Timor was buried in the forest, and 
 
 no stone marked the place where he 
 
 rested. 
 
 Jack, however, afterwards caused a 
 wooden cross to be placed over the 
 grave. 
 
 The following morning they all went 
 back to St. Petersburg, where the czar 
 received them with great empf sse- 
 ment. 
 
 He made Irkontok a count of ohe 
 empire, and, hearing of Timor's death, 
 gave ail his estates to Jack Dashley. 
 
 Jack was married to Efiie at the 
 English Embassy. 
 
 He could not, however, stay in Russia 
 all the time, so he took leave of the czar 
 and his kind employers, Messrs. }wackop, 
 Kine and Co., promising the emperor to 
 visit St. Petersburg once a year. 
 Now he was a rich man. 
 Quicksilver became Jack's valet ; Bill 
 
222 
 
 THE SCHOOLDAYS OF JACK AT ETON. 
 
 Bragg, who had recovered from his 
 wound, took them, including Owen 
 Tudor, back to England. 
 
 When they were fairly afloat in the 
 Baltic, Bragg slapped Jack on the 
 shoulder. 
 
 "All's well that ends well," he ex- 
 claimed. " tjlap-bang and all alive I " 
 
 " Ask Effie," replied Jack. 
 
 Effie threw her arms round her young 
 husband's neck and kissed him. 
 
 So, after many trials, our hero and his 
 friends found a haven of rest. 
 
 When the friends met, as they often 
 did, round Jack's hospitable board, con- 
 versation would turn upon their jjast 
 adventures and Timor's Revenge. 
 

Edwin J. Brett's (linjited) Popular Series of Somplete Boys' No?«l8 
 
 SIXPENNY VOLUMES. 
 
 HISTORICAL STORIES. 
 
 Ropert Dreadson^ht ; or, the Saerett of the Ini CkM*. j 
 
 ' Old tondoB Brldg*. 
 Borhood Dtijt of Osy Fawkot; tr, Ths Conipinton of 
 
 Old IiOndon. 
 Jack a' the Cndgel; or, tha Haro of a Hondrad FighU. 
 Boyhood Daya of Jaok Straw. 
 Traitor's Gate; or, the Headsman of ths Towei. 
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 Chery Chase ; or. The Battle on the Border. 
 By the Qnaan's Command; or, The Myitery of tha BaTsath 
 
 Stair. 
 ftaUant Jack ; or, The Pride of the British Army. 
 Sword of Fats; or. The Haadsmao's Doom. 
 Captain of the Onard ; or, Tha Hysterions Horseman. 
 
 STORIES OF ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE 
 
 BiTal Appranticas: A Tale of the RloU af 1780. 
 
 Hnnchback of Old St Paal's. 
 
 The Annoorar's Son; or, Ths Kysurisa af tha Tswai 
 
 London. 
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 The Black CaTalier ; or. The Banner of Cnrland. 
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 Fred Fralic, His Llf* and AdTentnTOa. 
 
 Giles Evergreen; or, Fresh from tha Country. 
 
 Poor Ray. the Dmmmer Boy. 
 
 Joe Sterling ; or, A Ragged Fortune. 
 
 Ralph Wildhawk ; or. Alone Among tha Brigandi. 
 
 Tom Caring ; or, Far from Home. 
 
 Wildfoot, the Wanderer of Wlcklow. 
 
 Jack Steadfast; or. Wreck and Raaesa. 
 
 Dick and his Friend Dnka. 
 
 Nobody's Dog. 
 
 Oxford and Cambridge Eights. 
 
 Strongbow, the Boy Chief of the Delawarea. 
 
 Jack 0' Lantern ; or, The Imp of ths SchooL 
 
 Rongh and Ready Jack. 
 
 Jack Rnshton ; or, Alone In the Pirates' Lair. 
 
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 The Gipsy Schoolboy; or, Tha Mystery of a Dark Night. 
 The Spies of the School; or, Peeping Tom and Knowall Dick. 
 The Spies Abroad; or, The FerUs of the Gold Coast. 
 The Rival Schools: their Fnn, Fends, and Frolics. 
 Fat O'Connor's Schooldays ; or. The Boys of tha Shannon. 
 Tie King of the School; or, Who Will Win! 
 Split in tbr School; or, Undannted by Peril*. 
 Unlncky Bob ; or. Our Boys at School. 
 The Captain of the School. 
 
 Fatherless Will. 
 
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 Travelling Schoolboys. 
 
 The Rightful Heir. 
 
 Nailed to the Mast ; or. The Child of thr Wavsa. 
 
 Jack and hll Seven Foes. 
 
 For Vengeance ; or, Tbe Doom of Rossian Tyraats. 
 
 Jack of Warwick ; or. The Cowboy of Taxaa. 
 
 Wandering Apprentice; or. The Sacral of tha 
 
 Casket. 
 The White Sqnaw. 1 Ta'.e of Indian Uf* 
 
 Rattlin' Tom's Sebooldays. 
 
 The Schooldays of Jack at Eton. 
 
 Hal Harkforward; or. Tom TaUyho'i Sohooldays. 
 
 Tonng Hopefal's Schooldays; or, Tha Saerat of tha 
 
 Oak. 
 Stingboys School and its many Mysteries. 
 Boys of Hawkhonse SchooL 
 Schoolboy Poacher. 
 Jack Ea?y's Schooldays. 
 
 TOUNO AI'PRKNTICE; or. TUB WATCHWORDS OF OLD 
 
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 ENGLISH JA,CK AMONO THK AKOHAJI3. 2 vols. 
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 TOM FLOREMALL IN SEARCH OF 
 
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