The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

By the time Fitzgerald could get to the door with the light a succession of shrill voices were heard. | The next moment they saw that Pincher had secured a fine rabbit. The other dog had rushed down stairs: | and, as soon as captive number one had been killed, the boys prepared to see } what was going on below. } Of course many of the other boys had kept awake in anticipation, and more than one door was thrown open as they passed to see what had happened. Freddy Webber peeped out. “Sold,my boy!” exclaimed Marsham, playfully striking him on the head with the dead rabbit. | “What a shame to kill the poor rab- bit,” replied Freddy, retiring into his room to hide his vexation at the dis- covery of his trick, and the death of Egerton and his friends hurried awa towards the lower part of the house. On arriving at a large room in which the pupils were allowed to keep boxes to contain their bats, balls, cricket shoes, &c., they found the dogs making des- perate exertions to reach two or three more rabbits. The animals had retreated to a kind of hutch, and were safe. “‘ At ail events we know how the noise is made,” said Frank; “ that is one great satisfaction.” | “ But we must punish Freddy in some way or other,” replied the proprietor of the dogs. ‘‘ We had better wait till to-morrow,” said Frank, ‘Let us see how the doctor takes it.” At that moment the gentleman spoken of made his appearance, “Well, young gentlemen, have you discovered Ah, what is this ?” he THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO: WILE WIN? exclaimed, as ‘one of the dogs took a sniff at his leg. “ Two dogs, sir,” said Marsham. “ Ts it these animals that have caused this disturbance for some weeks past.”’ “‘ No, sir.” | _ Then how came they here ?” “ They are mine, sir ; I brought them into the college to assist in detecting the offenders.” _ | “ Against the rules. Remind me ot this circumstance in the morning, Fitz- gerald,” “T assure you, sir, this is the first time they have been in the building. I should not have brought them in now, had it not been suggested that they would find: out the nocturnal prowlers.” | ; “Humph! Well, don’t let it occur again. What did you find ?” ‘Some rabbits, sir. Here is one of them.” | ‘‘ Killed the ghost, eh ? ha, ha! But now we must find out to whom these four-footed animals belong. Do you know, Fitzgerald ?” . | “ Yes, sir,” responded Charlie, after a moment’s hesitation. ‘“‘ Who is the owner ?” Fitzgerald hesitated more than before, and the doctor repeated his question, adding— “Tt you know, you may as well tell me. If you refuse, you only draw down punishment upon yourself; and I shall be pretty certain to find.out from some one else.” “They belong to Webber, sir.” “Very good. Now-then to your beds, boys. These dogs, I suppose, must re- main here all night? I hope they won't bark or howl.” | “Tl take care of that, gir,” replied Marsham, QO NSD COMICLOe A) EO mn