Tom, Dick and Harry Part 32

EXTRA DRILL.

Mr Jarman must have felt flattered at the gloomy dead silence which fell on Philosophers and Urbans alike as we looked round and saw him.

It was of course impossible to believe he had found us by accident, still less that he had come with any friendly purpose.

He advanced into the middle of the Bottom, watch in hand.

"This is contrary to rules," said he. "It is now a quarter-past six, and you are half an hour from Low Heath. In addition to which I have already said that fireworks are only to be had with leave. Tempest, you should have put an end to this. You will kindly send me in the name of every boy here. And each of you boys must attend an extra drill to- morrow and write out one hundred lines--except," added he, catching sight of me, "except Jones iv., whom I have already had to punish, and who must write two hundred lines."

It was a study to watch Tempest's face during this speech. It was all he could do to wait to the end.

"It's not fair," said he, with pale cheeks and angry brow. "It's a half-holiday, and boys always get half an hour's grace."

"That is not the rule," said the master.

"It's the practice, sir. Half these boys are in my house, and I have given them leave to stay. I also allowed the fireworks."

"Tempest, we will speak of this presently--"

"No, sir," blurted out Tempest, "the fellows have done nothing wrong; and if they have, I'm responsible to Dr England about it."

Mr Jarman was not the man to give himself away in a public discussion, and coolly walked off, observing--

"I shall expect the list of names to-night, Tempest."

Tempest's reply was a short, defiant laugh, which made the master turn a moment, as if about to notice it. But he departed silently, and left us to recover as well as we could from the surprise of the whole scene.

The general opinion was that the policeman had met his match at last in Tempest; and the more enthusiastic of us tried to express our feelings in words. But Tempest was by no means inclined to discuss the situation.

"Shut up," he replied angrily, when I ventured to applaud his courage.

"Cut back to school at once, and don't speak to me."

This was a blow to some of the party, who had calculated on a general revolt, to be headed by the rock of Sharpe's house in person, and celebrated by general orgies on the spot.

"I sha'n't do my lines, shall you?" said d.i.c.ky, as we trotted down to the boats.

"Rather not. And I don't think our chaps will turn up for extra drill."

"Just like old Tempest," said Brown. "He enjoys a row of this kind."

"He didn't look as if he did," remarked I. "Perhaps that was because such a lot of day chaps are mixed up in it."

Brown looked a little glum at this.

"He needn't bother about us unless he likes," said he. "We can take care of ourselves, I fancy."

Luckily at this stage we reached the boats, and further discussion was interrupted.

The voyage home was comparatively uneventful. It was of course enlivened by a desultory race with the Urbans all the way, in which, I regret to say, Mr Jorrocks's boats received a few scratches, owing to the desire of each boat to take the water of its opponent before it was clear ahead. The town-boys unrighteously claimed in the end to have won by a quarter of a length, but as in pa.s.sing our leader they had pulled away one of our bow oars and further turned the nose of the _Sarah_ into the bank, we stoutly resisted their claim, and a very lively argument ensued, in which Mr Jorrocks lost a good deal of varnish, and most of the combatants became rather wet. However, we were back in school within half an hour of embarking, which on the whole was not a bad record.

Curiosity to know what Tempest would do prevented us from so much as thinking of our "lines." I took an early opportunity of presenting myself in Pridgin's study, feeling sure I should be likely to hear something of the matter there.

As it happened, Tempest and Wales were there too, in deep confabulation.

"Look here, old chap," Pridgin was saying, "don't spoil your term for a parcel of yelping young puppies like this kid here and his lot. They're not worth it."

"For all that," said Wales, "it's a question of whether the c.o.c.k of a house is to be allowed his rights or not."

"It's more a question whether Jarman is to be allowed his rights," said Tempest. "I quite agree that these young m.u.f.fs are a nuisance, and it's all the more aggravating to be dragged into a mess by them. But he'd no right to interfere."

"Strictly speaking, I suppose he was right," said Pridgin. "There is a rule about juniors being in by 6:30; although every one knows half an hour's grace is given on half-holidays. And I suppose he's right about the fireworks."

"You think I ought to cave in?" asked Tempest.

"I don't say that. But I'd let the matter alone."

"We shall never stop Jarman at that rate," said Wales. "I should say fight it out."

"All very well for you and me," said Pridgin, "who are comfortably out of it. But it means a big job for old Tempest. He'll have to bear the brunt of it."

"I can't well drop it when he's told me to give him a list of the youngsters present," said Tempest.

"You certainly are not called upon to give him a list of the day boys."

"Well, as I only know one of them, it wouldn't be easy. If he'd only lagged me, and given me extra drill and lines, it wouldn't have been so bad. But it was playing it low down to--"

Here came a knock at the door, and the school messenger entered with a letter.

"No answer," said he, handing it to Tempest.

It was plain to see by the flush on Tempest's face as he read it that it contained anything but pleasant news.

"It's from Jarman," said he, throwing it down on the table.

Wales took it up and read it.

"Mr Jarman informs Tempest that the list of names required in connection with this afternoon's incident will not be required, as Mr Jarman already has it. Tempest will please attend the extra drill with the other boys of his house to-morrow, as his conduct this afternoon was neither respectful nor a good example to others."

"Whew!" exclaimed Pridgin, rising, for a wonder, out of his chair; "that's a nasty one, if you like. He's taken you at your word, old man.

Who's given the list of names? Did you, you young sweep?" he demanded of me.

"Oh no," said I, glad to be recognised under any term of endearment. "I wouldn't think of doing such a thing. But I'll tell you what I think."

"Really, Jones iv., it's nice to know you do think; but, if you don't mind, we would rather not hear. If you _know_ anything, let us hear it, but spare us your thoughts."

Pridgin was rather crus.h.i.+ng sometimes.

"I meant we were marked off by the porter at the lodge as we came in,"

said I. "Perhaps that's how he's got the names."