The Willoughby Captains Part 12

"Oh, we'll see about that," said Ashley. "If you choose to work for the school after what has happened, all I can say is you deserve to be backed up, and I'll back you up for one."

"So will I," said Wibberly.

Bloomfield could not resist flattery. As soon as it was represented to him that the hope of Willoughby centred in him, and that he was acting a beautiful and Christian part in still taking an interest in its welfare after the way he had been treated, he felt as if he really ought to meet his admirers half-way.

"Already a lot of the kids consider you as captain," said Game. "Didn't you hear a boatful of them cheering you yesterday?"

"Yes," said Bloomfield, "I heard that."

"Very well, they're much more likely to keep order for you than for that other fellow. We'll try it anyhow."

"I know a lot of the schoolhouse monitors think just the same as we do,"

said Tipper, "but they're so precious jealous for their house. They'd sooner stick to Riddell than allow a Parrett's fellow to be c.o.c.k of the school."

"A Parrett's fellow is c.o.c.k of the school all the same," said Wibberly.

"I wish the regatta was over. That will put things right."

"Yes; when once Parrett's boat is at the head of the river the schoolhouse won't have much to crow for," said Ashley.

"For all that," replied Bloomfield, "they seem to be grinding a bit with the crew they have got."

"Let them grind," said Game, laughing. "I'd as soon back Welch's boat as theirs. Fairbairn's the only man that does any work, and he's no form at all. Why don't they put the new captain in the boat, I wonder?"

The bare idea was sufficient to set the company laughing, in the midst of which the a.s.sembly-dispersed.

"By the way," said Game to Ashley, as they went into the "Big," "to- night is the opening meeting of the School Parliament. I mean to propose Bloomfield for president; will you second it?"

"Rather," said Ashley.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.

The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Pet.i.tion had not been idly spent by the new captain. He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.

What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him. That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face. How could he cope with them? He had never succeeded yet in keeping Telson, his own f.a.g, in order. How was he to expect to administer discipline to all the scapegraces of Willoughby? It would be bad enough, even if the monitors as a body were working with him, but when he was left almost single- handed, as seemed probable, what chance was there? Whatever would he do supposing a boy was reported to him for some offence, such as going out of bounds or--

By the way! And here a horrible thought flashed across his mind. He had been so flurried last night with one thing and another that he had hardly noticed a message sent him after call-over by the Register Clerk.

But it occurred to him now that it was about some boys who had not answered to their names.

He got out of bed with a groan and searched the mantelpiece for the note. Ah! here it was:

"Co. Fr. p.m., Telson (S.H.), Bosher, King, Lawkins, Parson (P), Abs.

Go Capt. 8 Sa. (Telson 2, Bosher 1, Parson 2.)"

After a great deal of puzzling and cogitation Riddell managed to translate this lucid doc.u.ment into ordinary English as follows:

"Call-Over, Friday evening, Telson (schoolhouse), Bosher, King, Lawkins, Parson (Parrett's), absent. To go to the captain at half-past eight on Sat.u.r.day. (Telson has already been absent twice this week, Bosher once, Parson twice.)" And with the discovery the unhappy captain found his worst fears realised.

Whatever would he do? It was now half-past five. In three hours they would be here. What would Wyndham have done? Caned them, no doubt.

Riddell had no cane. Ruler? He might break one of their ringers, or they might resist; or worse still baffle him with some ingenious excuse which he would not know how to deal with.

He sat by his bed staring hopelessly at the paper and wis.h.i.+ng himself anywhere but head of the school--and then as no new light appeared to dawn on the question, and as going back to bed would be a farce, he proceeded to dress.

He had just completed his toilet when he heard some one moving in the next study.

"There's Fairbairn getting up," he said to himself. "I wonder if he could help me?"

He thought he could. And yet, under the nervous exterior of this boy there lurked a certain pride which held him back from acting on the impulse. After all, if he was to do the work, why should he try to shunt part of his responsibility on to another?

So, though he went to his friend's study, he said nothing about the batch of juniors from whom he expected a morning call.

Fairbairn was arraying himself in his boating things, and greeted his friend cheerily.

"Hullo, Riddell, here's an early start for you!"

"Yes," said Riddell; "I couldn't sleep very well, so I thought I might as well get up."

"Best thing for you. But why haven't you your flannels on?"

"I'm not going out," said Riddell. "Besides, I don't believe I have flannels," added he.

"What, a Willoughby captain and no flannels! You'll have to get a suit at once, do you hear? But, I say, why don't you come down to the river with Porter and me? We're going to have a little practice spin, and you could steer us. It would do you more good than sticking indoors. Come along."

Riddell protested he would rather not, and that he couldn't steer; but Fairbairn pooh-poohed both objections, and finally carried off his man to the river, where his unwonted appearance in the stern of the schoolhouse pair-oar caused no little astonishment and merriment among the various early visitors who usually frequented the waters of the Craydle.

Despite these unflattering remarks, and despite the constant terror he was in of piloting his boat into the bank, or running foul of other boats, Riddell decidedly enjoyed his little outing, the more so as the exercise and occupation drove away entirely for a time all thoughts of the coming visit of the ill-behaved juniors.

But as soon as he returned to the school the prospect of this ordeal began again to haunt him, and spoilt morning chapel for him completely.

As he stood during the service in his captain's place he could not prevent his eye wandering hurriedly down the ranks of boys opposite and wondering how many of them he would be called upon to interview in his study before the term was over. As he reached the end of the array his eye rested on Telson close to the door, talking and laughing behind his hand with Parson, who listened in an unconcerned way, and looked about him as if he felt himself to be the monarch of all he surveyed. These were two of the boys who would wait upon him in his study immediately after prayers! Riddell turned quite miserable at the idea.

Prayers ended at last, and while the other monitors repaired to the Sixth Form room to discuss the presentation of the pet.i.tion as narrated in our last chapter, Riddell walked dejectedly to his study and prepared to receive company.

No one came for a long time, and Riddell was beginning to hope that, after all, the dreaded interview was not to come off, or that there was a mistake somewhere, and some one else was to deal with the culprits instead of himself, when a scuttling of footsteps down the pa.s.sage made his blood run cold and his heart sink into his boots.

"I _must_ be cool," he said to himself, fiercely, as a knock sounded at the door, "or I shall make a fool of myself. Come in."

In response to this somewhat tremulous invitation, Telson, Parson, Bosher, Lawkins, King, trooped into his study, the picture of satisfaction and a.s.surance, and stood lounging about the room with their hands in their pockets as though curiosity was the sole motive of their visit.

Riddell, while waiting for them, had hastily considered what he ought to say or do. But now, any ideas he ever had darted from his mind, and he gazed nervously at the small company.

"Oh!" said he at length, breaking silence by a tremendous effort, and conscious that he was looking as confused as he felt, "I suppose you are the boy--"

"Yes," said Bosher, leaning complacently against the table and staring at a picture over the mantelpiece.