The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

28 “ No, sir; I managed to get him to land.” “ Egerton, I am proud to number you among my pupils. But now hasten away and change your clothes, or you will be laid up with colds, rheu- matism, and all sorts of ailments.” THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? Although Frank resolved not to tell his companions anything of the adver- ture, and kept his resolution, his exploit soon became noised about over the school, and he became more of a hero than before. es ae ae CHAPTER VII. PLANNING AN EXPEDITION. « AnD how are your dogs, Marsham ?” - The speaker was Earl Pembridge ; the company consisted, in addition to to the above-named, of Egerton, Fitz- gerald, young Webber, and Harry, the general servant of all. The place of meeting was an elm tree in the cathedral grounds; the time some three days after our hero’s exploit as recorded in the last chapter. “Stunning !” was the dog-fancier’s proud response. “ Let’s go out to the ‘Six Bells’ and get a lot of rats and see the beauties kill them,” suggested Webber. ‘That’s a rather low occupation,” suggested our hero. “Tl tell you what would be fun,” said Pembridge. We'll take them up in the spinney and catch a lot of rabbits.” ‘We should want a ferret,” Fitz- gerald said. ‘You had one at the court the other day,” retorted Webber. “He was a trifle too sharp for you.” “No joking, Freddy; poaching and burglary are too very serious subjects,” “Some people can’t see a good joke,” replied the younger of the two boys. “Silence! ycu fellows, What are you quarrelling about ?” “Freddy has cut up because I de- ziined to burst. myself through laughing yb his attempts at wit.” “Well, now, attention all. It is agreed that we will go and catch some rabbits, if we can get a ferret ; it would be useless to attempt it without.” “ Yes; all agree.” ‘Then who knows where the ferret is to be procured ?” | “ Chancery Lane, London,” chimed in Freddy, who could not help return- ing to the old subject of mirth. ‘“‘ Be quiet.” “I know where to find one, sir,” saia poor “ Harry the Heir,” poor, however, no longer. : . ‘“‘ ‘Where ?” asked all the boys at once, “ At the house I livein. The man keeps one in a box in his back garden; it bit me one day when I went to stroke its back. ° “T should think it did, you little muff,” observed Marsham; “the only way to be safe with a ferret is to grip it’ round the neck. Flowever, you ge and fetch it.” “Supposing the man won’t lend it me, sir?” “ Then, all you have to do, is to take the animal, put him in your pocket handkerchief, and trot back here as soon as possible.” | “ But that would be stealing, sir !” “You young stupid, don’t you see—* “ The boy is quite right,” interposed Egerton. “It would be stealing, and neither you nor I have any right to ex CO DOC (CO mn