The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

26 THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? ence rc but for the gross stupidity of certain persons,” observed Ferret, glancing at the little group of police. “Certainly not—that is, if the pri- soner can give any satisfactory reason for his being in the College grounds at that late hour.” Superintendent and sergeant gave each other knowirlg looks, as much as to say—‘‘ Ah, our magistrate, if he is a country gentleman, won’t allow this pert London lawyer to have it all his own way. I wonder how he'll explain it.” They were not kept many seconds in suspense, for Mr. Hall immediately replied— | ‘‘T had been to the ‘ Six Bells,’ to see the landlord, who is a very old friend. I stayed at his house till midnight, and was returning to the ‘ Red Lion’ when I missed my way, and found that I was wandering about the cathedral grounds. I was trying to find the roadway when some one seized me, then a lot of boys eame up, and last of all two policemen.” The host of the “ Six Bells” was then called by Mr. Ferret, and testified that Mr. Hall left his house only abou# twenty minutes before he was captured. “ Quite sufficient,” said the presiding magistrate. “The prisoner is dismissed, without a’stain upon his character. At the same time I must caution him —ah—hump—-not to do it again.” “Not to do what, may I ask, sir?” demanded Mr. Ferret. The magistrate frowned, and the schoolboys tittered, but the London lawyer pressed his question. : “Not to be found in the grounds of Lexicon College after midnight. That’s what I mean, sir.” : And then the prisoner was dismissed ; it having been established beyond doubt that he was a respectable commercial traveller and not a burglar. The next day Baynes received a letter. He turned deadly pale as he read it, and then, having struck a lucifer match, burned it with the greatest care. CPP NSD CHAPTER VI. A NOBLE ACTION. Asovr a hundred yards from Lexicon College was a river, where, in the sum- mer months, the young collegians bathed, apd held their rowing matches, The stream was very curved in form, and one of its bends was the natural boundary of three-fourths of the circum-, ference of the ancient city of Ballsbury. It should be mentioned, however, that only those who could swim well were allowed to bathe in, or row on this in the study of Julius Cesar, having been pronounced deficient in knowledge of that noble Roman; Marsham had gone up to the “ Six Bells” to prove, by actual experiment, how many rats his terriers could kill in twenty minutes; Crawley was known to be engaged with Captain Robinson at the billiard-rooms, and others were engaged in amusements for which Egerton had not much taste. So he resolved to walk down to the river: those who could not, being restricted to a tributary stream, whose greatest depth was about four feet. Of course Frank Egerton could swim like an otter, and, of course, was allowed to use the big stream, One afternoon he happened to be walking along its banks alone. Lord Pembridge had gone for a long fide, Fitzgerald was deeply engaged boat-house, row to Brightford (a village about three miles up stream), and per- suade on old boatman there to give the Lexicon eight some professional train- ing for their annual match. Hestarted acrossthe meaaow, saunter- ing along very slowly. Suddenly a loud scream caused him to lift up his head and stare round, The cry was repeated. ECOMMICL OC