The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 35: 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? 29 courage him in so doing. The preda- tory instinct is quite strong enough im all classes of society without needing any encouragement,” “Do you hear that?” said Freddy Webber; “you must learn to distinguish between mewm and tuum, and subdue your predatory instincts, for remember, “He who prigs what is'nt his’n, When he’s caught is sent to prison !” Young Harry who had not under- stood a word of the commencement of Webber’s oration, laughed most heartily at its concluding couplet. “Hold your tongue, Freddy,” said Egerton. “Sir,” replied Webber, endeavouring to put on a look of fierce indignation, “T desire you will not address me with such coarse familiarity.” “ Hold your tongue, I tell you.” “Have at ye, villain!” exclaimed Freddy, in melo-dramatic tones, as he sprang forward, aiming a playful blow, which fell about six inches short of Egerton’s nose. The next instant he was seized, and lifted high above Frank’s head. _ Being thus captured, Freddy’s great idea was to escape; and, being rather quick-witted, soon hit upon a plan. He seized a bough of the elm tree, about eight or nine feet from the ground, and kicked himself free from Egerton’s grasp. “How are you going to get down, Freddy ?” asked the Earl of Pembridge, who knew that Webber was very timid at jumping. “Yes, that’s what puzzles me.’ “ You'll have to roost ther e, F reddy.” “ Nonsense. Here, you young Harry, go and fetch me the garden ladder.” Harry was on his way to purchase or hire the ferret, having been supplied by the young earl with sufficient money to purchase half-a-dozen of the vicious animals, More by way of joke than from in- tentional desire to frighten him, the others ther walked away. leaving poor Webber perched up. hike a sparrow, by Jupiter !” muttered he, after he had seen them depart. “ Well, my perch is not very comfortable.” Immediately he began to chant— ‘Of all the birds that seek the tree, Which is the wittiest fowl ? 'Tis the cuckoo—the cuckoo—for he Is wiser than the owl. “ He dressed himself in his Sunday’s best When breeding time began; Then sent his children out to nurse In the house of another man.” Now it so happened that the reverend principal was on his way to the cathe- dral, and, crossing the close, heard the above lines carolled in no very gentle voice, - He looked round, but none of the pupils were visible. ‘My ears must have deceived me,” thought he, but at that moment again came the refrain, louder and more melodious than ever— ‘Tis the cuckoo—the cuckoo—for he Is wiser than the owl.” Seeing no one upon the ground, the worthy doctor thought that the air was the next best element to search, and, not perceiving any human being soaring in the sky, cast a glance up into one of the venerable elm trees with which the cathedral close abounded. First of all he became aware of a pair of boots attached to legs, dangling from one of the lower branches of the tree, and, looking more closely, perceived that they belonged to Master Fred, Webber. “Why, Webber, what on earth are you doing there ?” demanded the much amazed doctor. “Trying to discover some way of getting down, sir.’ “ How did you get there ?” “ Why, sir, I was put up; and, as I did not find my nest very comfortable, I thought I would try a lay,” replied Freddy, who was as great a favourite with the doctor as with his fellow pupils. “Ha, ha, ha! punning again, Webber; bad habit. But you must get down; how will you manage ?” “IT think, sir, if you were to send Go NOC EO mn