The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN ? 71 They ran down the hill at a pretty good pace, once more reached the river- bank, jumped in, and swam back, amid the loud cheers of half-a-dozen young- sters who had just brought an old punt and were about to go over. “How is Egerton?” was the first question the three young heroes asked. Of course the other boys had been waiting on the bank, and could not answer the question. However, they all hurried back to the college, and learnt the news. Egerton had received a pistol-shot wound of a very dangerous character. The shot had grazed the head with sufficient force to fracture the skull, and the patient was consequently in ereat danger. Doctor Whackley, who had received a blow from a life-preserver, had recovered sufficiently to be able to make a state- ment to the police. He was sitting in his study, he said, when he became aware, from a stream of cold air on his back, that the window had been opened. Turning round for the purpose of closing it, he was rather startled to see a tall man, whose face was hidden, standing behind him. | On demanding what he wanted, and calling for help, the robber struck him a heavy blow with a life-preserver, after which the doctor could remember nothing till he returned to concious- ness in his own bed-room. The dripping appearance of the three lads who had chased the robber at- tracted immediate attention. tll “Go to your rooms, my dear boys, change everything, and jump into bed,” said Mrs. Whackley. “I will send up some hot brandy-and-water in a few minutes.” “‘Can’t I see Egerton?” asked Fitz- gerald. “No. cold.” “T don’t mind about that,. only I wished we had caught the thief.” ‘¢ Ah, well, never mind,” and the kind-hearted lady bustled them out of the room. The brandy-and-water was sent as promised; the three lads thoroughly — themselves and jumped into ed. With the exception that Fitzgerald had a slight cold the next day, neither of them was the worse for the night’s adventure. All night long the doctor and an experienced nurse remained in attend- ance on Egerton. A telegram was sent to London re- questing the most celebrated surgeon of the day to hasten down in the morning. He came, and, after a brief examina- tion of the wound, said— . “Tt would be advisable to let his parents know of this. He may not live twenty-four hours.” A messenger was sent immediately to inform Mrs. Egerton of her son's dangerous wound. In the meantime the great man from London brought all his professional skill to bear upon the case, Ce ee Go to bed, or you will catch EO DOC EO mn