The Adventures of a Three Guinea Watch

THE ADVENTURES OF

A THREE GUINEA WATCH

UNIFORM WITH THIS V0LUM3.

POPULAR BOYS' STORIES

BY

TALBOT BAINES REED.

THE FIFTH FORM AT ST. DOMINIC &,

MY FRIEND SMITH.

A DOG WITH A BAD NAME.

TOM, DICK, AND HARRY.

SIR LUDAR.

ROGER INGLETON, MINOR.

THE ADVENTURES OF A THREE GUINEA
WATCH.

THE COCK-HOUSE AT FELLSGARTH.

THE MASTER OF THE SHELL.
REGINALD CRUDEN.
PARKHURST BOYS.

THE ADVENTURES OF

A THREE GUINEA

WATCH

B 7
TALBOT BAINES REED

Author of
•The Fiith Form at St. Dominic's/ ( The Master of the Shell/

'Reginald Cruden/ etc.

LONDON
THE OFFICE OF 'THE BOY'S OWN PAPER'

4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard

PREFATORY NOTE

The following stirring story of boy life, from the
time of leaving home for school until early manhood,
is taken from the pages of The Boy's Own Paper.
One special recommendation of this story is the life-
like fidelity with which its various characters, their
temptations, failures, and triumphs, are portrayed.
Every reader must feel that these boys at least are

no mere pasteboard figures, manipulated for a given

purpose by the writer ; but healthy flesh-and-blood
lads of precisely the kind that, for good or evil, one
meets all around, and rubs shoulders with day by
day in school and college, as well as in the great hurly-
burly of our present-day cities. Their temptations
and, alas 1 sad failures, indicate with vivid realism
the shoals and quicksands upon which so many youth-
ful barques founder ; while their victories, won in
some instances only after years of bitter conflict,

r

are such as may be ours to-day, if, in distrust of self,
we but look away in faith to Him who alone is ' able
to keep us from falling.'

The book is one eminently suitable for parents to
place in the hands of their boys when first leaving
home, whether for school, or the larger, sterner
training-ground of the world ; and they may do so

6 PREFATORY NOTE

with full assurance that the narrative will be read
with eager interest. That, followed by their prayers,
it may also prove a lasting blessing to many, is
the earnest desire of one who, with sturdy lads of
his own, has a very tender place in his heart for boys

of all ages.

G. A. H.

CONTENTS

CHAP, PAGE

I My Infancy and Education — How I was

Sold and Who Bought Me ... 9

II How I was Presented to a Boy, and of a

Certain Journey we Took Together . 19

III How my Master and I Reach Randlebury

in State, and of a Great Calamity . 29

IV How I was Cured of My Ailments, and

how My Master Began Life at Randle-
bury ....... 41

V How My Master Entered and Quitted

the Head Master's Study Twice in
one Morning ..... 52

VI How My Master had Both His Friends

and his Enemies at Randlebury . 62

VII How a Pleasant Treat in Store was Pre-
pared for My Master .... 74

VIII How My Master did not Catch the Fish

He Expected ...... 85

IX How My Master and I had Quite as Much

Excitement in One Afternoon as was
Good for Us .... 96

X How I Changed Hands and Quitted

Randlebury ...... 106

XI How Tom Drift Made One Stap,t in Lon-
don, and Prepared to Make Another . 118

XII How Tom Drift Begins to Go Downhill. 129

XIII How Tom Drift, Still Going Downhill,

Met My Old Master . . . .138

XIV How Tom Drift Parted with His Best

Friend 149

8

CONTENTS

CHAP.

XV How I Found Myself tn Very Low Com-

X A.jN JL a * * * * • »

PAGB

XVII How Tom Drift Gets Lower Still

XVIII

r ■ v t

.JL

XXII

XXIII

xxrv

XXVI

How I was Knocked Down by an Auction-
eer, and Picked Up by a Countryman .

How, After Much Ceremony, I Found
Myself dn the Pocket of a Genius

How My New Master Made Trial of a
Pursuit of Knowledge Under Diffi-
culties .......

How My Master Fared at St. George's
College and Met an Old Acquaintance
of the Reader's There

How My Master and I Went Out to Break-
fast, and Whom Wk Met .

How Jim's Uncle and Aunt Spent a Dif-
ferent Sort of Day From That Which
They had Expected .

How George Reader Went Up for His
Final Examination and Left Me Behind

How I Was Unexpectedly Enlisted in a
New Service, in Company with an Irish-
man .......

157

XVI How I Changed Masters Twice in Two

Day's, and After A\l Found Myself
in Pawn. ...... 168

17

187

107

207

217

223

240

252

How I Fall Into the Hands of an Old
Friend . . . . . . .263

274

XXVII How I Made a Long Journey, and Reached

the Happiest Moment of My Life . 285

XXVIII How I Saved My Master's Life, and Re-
tired from Active Service . . .297

XXIX Which Brings My Adventures to a Close 309

<3NO^

X J

J ±

b*4i

m*i

1

A

4 What will you give mc for this ? ' he whispered.

S<e ta.k< J7«*

THE ADVENTUKES OF A THREE

GUINEA WATCH

CHAPTER I

My infancy and education — How I was sold

and who bought me.

HEN yon can guarantee it to be a good one

T

to go {

fs *

1 You couldn't have a better, sir.'

' And it will stand a little roughish wear, you
think % '

' I'm sure of it, sir ; it's an uncommon strong
watch.'

'Then I'll take it.'

These few sentences determined my destiny, and
from that moment my career may be said to have
begun.

I am old, and run down, and good for nothing now ;
but many a time do I find my thoughts wandering
baok to this far-off day ; and remembering all that
has befallen me since that eventful moment, I humbly
hope my life has not been one to disgrace the good
character with which I went out into the world.

I was young at the time, very young — scarcely a

9

io THE ADVENTURES OF

month old. Watches however, as every one knows,
are a good deal more precocious in their infancy than
human beings. They generally settle down to busi-
ness as soon as they are born, without having to spend
much of their time either in the nursery or the
schoolroom.

Indeed, after my face and hands had once been
well cleaned, and a brand-new shiny coat had been
put on my back, it was years before I found myself
again called upon to submit to that operation which
is such a terror to all mortal children.

As to my education, it lasted just a week ; and
although I am bound to say, while it lasted, it was
both carefully and skilfully managed, I did not at all
fancy the discipline I was subjected to in the process.
I used to be handed over to a creature who took me
up and examined me (as if he were a policeman and a
magistrate combined), and according as I answered
his questions he exclaimed, ' You're going too fast/ or
* You're going too slow,' and with that he set himself
to ' regulate ' me, as he called it. I was ordered to
turn round, take oil my coat, and submit my poor
shoulders to his instrument of correction. But why
need I describe this experience to boys ? They know
what ' regulating ' means as well as I do I

Well in due time I profited by the instructions
received, and one day my tutor, after the usual
examination, grumpily told me, ' You're right at last ;
you can po.' And I did go, and I've been going ever

since.

The troubles of my infancy however were not all
over. I discovered at a very early age that the one

A THREE GUINEA WATCH n

thing a watch is never allowed to do is to go to sleep.
They'd as soon think of leaving an infant to starve as
of letting a watch go to sleep.

But to my story. Ever since I had left school — or,
in other words, gone through my due course of regula-
tion — -I had remained shut up under a glass case, lying
comfortably upon a bed of purple velvet, and decorated
with a little white label bearing the mysterious
inscription, ' Only Three Guineas.' From this stately
repose I was only once a day disturbed in order to be
kept from sleeping, and had all the rest of my time
to look about me and observe what went on in the
world ir* which I found myself.

It was not a big world indeed, but I could see I
was not the only inhabitant. All around me were

watches like myself, some of a golden complexion,
and some — of which I was one — of a silvery. Some
were big, and made an awful noise, and some were
tiny, and just whispered what they had to say. Some
were very proud, and showed off their jewels and
chains in a way which made me blush for the vanity
of my fellow-creatures — ' dear ' watches, the ladies
called these, and others were as plain as plain
could be.

Every now and then our case would be opened,
and one of my neighbours taken out and never put
back. Then we knew he had been sold, and we who
were left spent our time in gossiping about what had
become of him, and speculating whose turn would
come next. A gold repeater near me was very con-
fident the turn would be his, and so impressed us with
the sense of his f striking ' importance and claims, that

i2 THE ADVENTURES OF

when the next time our glass house was entered, and
a hand came groping in our direction, I at once con-
cluded it was his summons into publicity and honour.
Imagine my astonishment, then, when the hand, instead
of reaching my gold neighbour, took hold of me and
cautiously drew me out of the case ! My heart leaped
to my mouth — or whatever part of a watch's anatomy
corresponds with that organ — and I was ready to faint
with excitement. I had always imagined I was to lie
in that case for years, but now, when I was barely a

month old, here was I going out into the world.

It made me quite bashful to listen to all the flatter-
ing things my master said of me. I was worth twice
the price he was selling me at, he said ; in fact, if
trade had been good he would not have parted with
me under three times that price. It was a relief to
think the repeater could not overhear this, or he would
have sneered in a way to extinguish me altogether.
As it was, no other watch was by, so that I was not
very much embarrassed.

After turning me over, and feeling my pulse, and
listening to the beating of my heart, and taking off
my coat and waistcoat to inspect my muscle, my
master's customer at last laid me down on the counter
and pronounced the sentences with which I have
begun my story.

* Then I'll take it,' he said, and pulled out his purse.
• Stop a bit, though ! ' exclaimed he ; ' I'd better have
a chain too, my little chap will think more of that than
the watch. Let me see some silver chains, will you ? '

So my master went and fetched a tray containing
a large number of tempting -looking chains.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 13

While he was gone my new owner took me up
again in his hand and turned me over and put me to
his ear ; then as he laid me down again he smiled to
himself and murmured,

1 Bless his little heart ! how proud he'll be ! '

I was quite taken aback. Who was this taking
upon himself to bless my little heart and prophesy
that I should be proud ? Then all of a sudden it
occurred to me this remark may have been intended
to refer not to me, but to the * little chap ' the gentle-
man had just now spoken of. So I recovered my
composure, especially when I saw what a kind, gentle
face my purchaser had.

He chose a neat, strong silver chain which was
forthwith, in accordance with the barbarous practice
of the age, fixed to my poor neck. I could not help
sighing as I felt for the first time the burden of
bondage.

What had I done to be thus chained like a Roman
captive, like a dog, like a parrot ? But it was no use
being in a rage. I swallowed my indignation as well
as I could, and consoled myself with the reflection
that every watch, even gold repeaters themselves, are
Bubject to the same hardship.

Ah ! I was young then, and my knowledge of the
world was small. Many a time since I have blessed
the chain that held me, just as the ship, could it speak,
would bless the cable that saved it from the rocks.
Take the advice of an old ticker, you young watches,
and instead of rebelling against your chains, rather
hope they may be strong and sound in every link I

' That will be just five pounds, won't it ? ' said my

i 4 THE ADVENTURES OF

purchaser. ' Here is a bank note. Never mind about
doing it up, I'll just slip it into my pocket. Good-

morning.'

And with that I was conscious of being lowered
into a dark, deep pit, and without time to bid my
comrades good-bye, or to take a last look at my old
master, I felt myself hurried away I knew not whither.

This, then, was my first step into the world.

I lay untouched and apparently forgotten for
several hours. Gradually getting my eyes accustomed
to the darkness, and looking about me as far as I was
able, I heard a ticking going on in a pocket not very far
from the one I was in, which I at once concluded to
proceed from the watch of my new master. Thinkin
I might be able to gain some information from him, I
groped about till I found a small hole in my lodgings
through which I was able to peep, and call.

' Tick ! ' said I, as loud as I could, to secure the
attention of my fellow- watch.

' Who's that ? ' at once exclaimed the other.

* I'm a new watch, bought to-day/
c Humph ! How much I '

c Three guineas.'
e Chain and all 1 *

* No ; five pounds with the chain.'

' Humph, I cost thirty guineas. Never mind, you're
for the boy.'

' What boy ? '

( The governor's. I heard him say he was going to
get him one. That boy will be spoiled, as sure as I
go on springs ; he's made such a lot of. Have you
been regulated ? '

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 15

' I should think I have ! ' exclaimed I, in indignant
recollection of my education.

' All right ; keep your temper. What time are you ? '

' Seven minutes to six.'

'Wrong ! It's seven and three-quarters ! '

' How do you know % '

' Because that's what I make it.'

* How do you know you are right ? ' I asked,
wondering at my own impudence in thus questioning
an old ticker.

1 Look here, young fellow/ said the other in an
awful voice ; ' you don't seem to know you are ad-
dressing a gold watch that has neither gained nor lost
a minute for five years ! There I You may think
yourself clever ; but you're too fast.'

' I'm sure I beg your '

1 That'll do ! ' said the offended veteran. ' I want
no more words.'

I was completely shut up at this, and retired back
to my pocket very crestfallen.

Presently I began to feel drowsy ; my nerves seemed
to get unstrung, and my circulation flagged. It was
long after the time I had generally been in the habit
of being wound up ; and I began to be afraid I was
really going to be left to go to sleep. That, by this
time, I knew would be nothing short of a calamity.
I therefore gave a slight tug at my chain.

* What's the matter ? * it said, looking down.

1 I've not been wound up.'

'I can't help that,' said the chain.

* Can't you let him know somehow ? ' I gasped,
faintly.

16 THE ADVENTURES OF

' How can I ? He's busy packing up books/

1 Couldn't you catch yourself in his fingers or some-
thing ? I'm in a bad way.'

1 I'll see,' said the chain.

Presently I felt an awful tug at my neck, and I
knew the chain had managed to entangle itself somehow
with his fingers.

c Hullo ! ' I heard my master exclaim, ' I mustn't
smash Charlie's chain before I give it to him. I'd
better put it and the watch away in my drawer till

the morning. Heigho I it'll be a sad day for me
to-morrow ! '

As he spoke he drew me from the pocket, and, dis-
engaging the chain from his buttonhole, he laid us
both in a drawer and shut it up. I was in despair,
and already was nearly swooning from weakness.

He had shut the drawer, and his hand was still on
the knob, when all of a sudden he exclaimed,

' By the way, I must wind it up, or it'll stop ! '

With what joy and relief I saw the drawer again
opened, and felt myself taken out and wound up I
Instantly new life seemed to infuse itself through my
frame ; my circulation revived, my nerves were strung
again, and my drooping heart resumed its usual
healthy throb. Little did my master think of the
difference this winding up made to my health and

comfort.

' Now you're happy I ' said the chain, as we found
ourselves once more in the drawer.

* Yes ; I'm all right now, I'm glad to say,' said I.

' What's going to happen to us to-morrow ' I asked
presently.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 17

* We're going to be given to the boy, and he's going
to school ; ' bo the silver chain told me. ' Nice time
we shall have of it, I expect.'

After that he went to sleep, and I fell to counting
the seconds, and wondering what sort of life I was
destined to lead.

About an hour after I heard two voices talking in
the room.

' Well/ said one, and I recognized it at once as my
master's, ' the packing's all finished at last.'

' Ah, Charles/ said the other, and it seemed to be
a woman's voice speaking amid tears, * I never thought
it would be so hard to part with him.'

c Tut, tut 1 ' said the first, ' you mustn't give way,
Mary. You women are bo ready to break down.
He'll soon be back ; ' but before my master had got
to the end of his sentence he too had broken down.

For a long time they talked about their boy, their
fine boy who had never before left his parents' roof,
and was about now to step out into the treacherous
world. How they trembled for him, yet how proudly
and confidently they spoke of his prospects ; how
lovingly they recalled all their life together, from the
days when he could first toddle about, down to the
present.

Many tears were mingled with their talk, and
many a smothered sob bespoke a desperate effort to
subdue their common sorrow. At last they became
quieter, then I heard my master say,

' I positively have never shown you the watch I got
for him,' and with that he opened the drawer and
produced me.

18 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Oh, Charles/ cried the mother, ' how delighted ho
will be, and what a capital watch it is ! '

And she looked atr me affectionately for a long
time, for her son's sake, smiling through her tears, and
then put me back.

Need I say that as these two knelt together that
night, their only son was not forgotten in their
prayers ?

So ended the first day of my adventures.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 19

CHAPTER II

V

How I was presented to a boy, and of a certain

journey we took together,

ERY early next morning, when my hands scarcely
pointed to five o'clock, the little household
was astir. There was a noise of hurried going and

coming, and of trunks being carried down stairs,

and for the first time I heard mingled with the
sedate voices of my master and his wife, another
voice, cheery and musical, which I at once guessed
to belong to my future lord and master.

It was not till after this bustle had been going on
for a good while that I was taken out of the drawer
and put back into the pocket in which I had spent so
many anxious hours the day before. But here I was
destined not to remain long, as will be seen.

Breakfast was a sad meal to that little family. Even
the gay, high-spirited boy was sobered in anticipation
of the coming parting, and as to his parents, they
dared not open their lips for fear of breaking

down.

Then there was a rumbling of wheels in the street,
and a banging about of boxes at the hall door ; then

20 THE ADVENTURES OF

a last long embrace between mother and son. She
no longer resisted her grief, and he for the time forgot
everything but her he was leaving ; then father and
son stepped into the cab and drove away.

I felt the father's heart beating quicker and his
chest heaving deeper as we proceeded. Presently
his hand stole to the pocket where I lay hid, and
he said

1 Charlie, boy, I've said all I have to say to you.
You will remember our talk last night, I am sure, and
I shall remember it too. I have no greater wish than
to see my boy brave and honest and true to himself.
Remember always I am your father, and never hesitate
.to tell me whenever you are in trouble, or danger, or

and I hope this won't often be — in disgrace. See
here,' said he, drawing me forth, " this is a watch which

your mother and I have got for you. Think of us
when you use it ; and mind this, Charlie, make
the best use of time, or time will become your

enemy.'

The poor man faltered out these words with a half-
broken heart, as he handed me to his son.

The boy's eyes brightened and his face became
radiant at the sight of his unexpected treasure.
What boy does not covet a watch of his own at
some time or other 1

* Oh, father ! ' he cried, c how good and kind of you !
What a beauty ! '

The father smiled to see his son's delight, and

helped to fasten the chain to his button-hole.

' You and mother are bricks ! ' exclaimed Charlie,
feasting his eyes upon me, and half wild with

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 21

delight. ' How did you know I was longing to have

one ? '

' Were you ? ' inquired the father.

' Of course I was, and you knew it. What a swell
I shall be 1 And it will always be sure to remind me

of home.'

While this talk was going on I had leisure to
examine my new owner. Picture to yourselves a
curly-haired, bright-eyed boy of thirteen with honest,
open face, good features, and winning smile. He is
big for his age, and strongly built. At present his
form is arrayed in a brand-new suit of gray; his
collar is new and his tie is new, his boots are new
and his socks are new ; everything is new about him,
down to the very guard of his hat, and he himself is
the newest and purest of all. Was ever such a radiant
young hero turned loose into the world ?

And now, over and above his other glories, he had
me to crown all. The graceful curve of my chain on
his waistcoat gave that garment quite a distinguished
appearance, and the consciousness of a silver watch
in his pocket made him hold his head even higher than
usual.

' He is a beauty I ' again he broke out, ' exactly the
kind I like most. I'll take ever such a lot of care of
him.' And so saying, he began to swing me at the
end of the chain, till I suddenly came sharply into
collision with the door of the cab.

* Hullo, ' exclaimed my young master, * that won't do.
I'll put him away now. It was good of you, father.'

With that we reached the railway station, and in
the bustle that ensued I was for the time forgotten.

22 THE ADVENTURES OF

Charlie's trunks were duly labelled for Randlebury,
and then came the hardest moment of all, when father
and son must part.

'I wonder if you'll be- altered, Charlie, when I see
you again.'

'Not for the worse I hope, anyhow,' replied the
boy, laughing.

' Tickets, please ! ' demanded the guard.

' There goes the bell/ said Charlie, pulling me out
of his pocket. ' They're very punctual. Hullo, we're
off ! Good-bve, father.'

* Good-bye, boy, and God bless you.'

And there was a close grasp of the hand, a last
smile, a hasty wave from the window ; and then we
were off.

How many grown-up men are there who cannot
recall at some time or other this crisis in their lives,
this first good-bye from the home of their childhood,
this stepping forth into the world with all that is
familiar and dear at their backs, and all that is
strange and unknown and wonderful stretching away
like a vast landscape before them ? How many are
there who would not give much to be back once
more at that threshold of their career ; and to have
the chance of living over again the life they began
there with such bright hopes and such careless con-
fidence ? Ah, if some of them could have seen whither
that flower-strewn path was to lead them, would they
not rather have chosen even to die on the threshold,
than take so much as the first step forth from the
innocent home of childhood !

But I am wandering from my story. For half an

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 23

hour after that last good-bye Charlie leaned back In
the comer of his carriage and gave himself up to hia
loneliness, and I could feel his chest heaving to keep
down the tears that would every now and then rise
unbidden to his eyes.

But what boy of thirteen can be in the dumps for
long ? Especially if he has a new watch in his pocket.
Charlie was himself again before we had well got
clear of London, and his reviving spirits gradually
recalled to his memory hia father's parting gift,
which had for a while been half forgotten amid other
cares.

Now again I was produced, I was turned over and
over, was listened to, was peeped into, was flourished
about, was taken off my chain, and put on again with
the supremest satisfaction. At every station we came
to, out I came from his pocket, to be compared with
the railway time. By the clock at Batfield I was a
minute slow — a discrepancy which was no sooner dis-
covered than I felt my glass face opened, and a fat
finger and thumb putting forward my hand to the
required time. At Norbely I was two minutes fast
by the clock, and then (oh, horrors I) I found myself
put back in the same rough-and-ready way. At
Maltby I was full half a minute behind the great
clock, and on I went again. At the next station the
clock and I both gave the same time to a second, and
then what must he do but begin to regulate me I
After a minute calculation he made the astounding
discovery that I had lost a minute and a quarter in
four hours, and that in order to compensate for this
shortcoming it would be necessary for him to move

24 THE ADVENTURES OF

vay regulator forward the two hundred and fortieth
part of an inch. This feat he set himself to accom-
plish with the point of his scarf-pin while the train
was jolting forward at the rate of thirty miles an
hour !

I began to grow nervous. If this was a sample of
what I was to expect, I had indeed need be the
healthy, hardy watch I was represented to be by my
maker.

And yet I could not be angry with my brave, honest
little tormentor.

It was a sight to see him during that long journey,
in all the glory of a new suit, with a high hat on his
head for the first time, and a watch in his pocket.
In his pocket, did I say ? I was hardly ever so lucky.
Every five minutes he whipped me out to see how
the time was going. If he polished me up once with
his handkerchief, he did it twenty times, and each
time with such vigour that I was nearly red-hot under
the operation. And no sooner was he tired of poiishin
me, than he took to paying his hat the same
attention, till that wretched article of decoration must
have trembled for its nap. Then he would take to
whistling and singing (what boy can help doing one
or the other in a train ?), and as I heard all his little
artless songs and gay chirping, I thought it the
pleasantest music one could possibly listen- to. And, not
to let his hands be less busy than his throat, he would
bring out the wonderful six-bladed knife his uncle had
given him, and exploring all its wonders, and opening
all its blades at the same time, together with the cork-
screw, the gimlet, the pincers, and the button-hook,

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 25

at different angles, would terrif}? the lives out of his
fellow-passengers by twirling the awful bristling
weapon in his fingers within a foot or so of their

faces .

'Mind, dear,' said an old lady on the seat opposite,
'you'll cut } T our fingers off, I'm certain.'

* Oh, no, I won't/ exclaimed he, taking out his hand-
kerchief, and beginning to polish the blades one after
another.

The old lady trembled as she watched him, and
6ighed with relief when the operation was over.

Presently, having nothing particular to do, he stared
at her. ' Would you like to know the time, ma'am ? '
he inquired.

* If you please/ replied the good old soul.

' Well, it's just seventeen minutes and nineteen
seconds past three by my watch. Would you like to
Bee for yourself, ma'am ? '

And, pleased to have a confidant of his possessions,
ho loosed my chain, and flourished me bodily before
the eyes of his new friend.

She took me kindly, and said, ' What a fine watch
you've got, dear ? '

( Yes/ replied he, with lofty condescension ; ( like to
see his, works ? '

* You should be careful, you know/ she said,
1 watches so easily get out of order.'

' Oh, I won't hurt it/ said he, proceeding to take off
my coat and waistcoat. ' There ! there are his works.
Don't breathe hard, or you'll damp them/

So the old lady held her breath and peeped in, much
to my young master's gratification.

26 THE ADVENTURES OF

" And so you're going to school, my man ? ' said she
presently.

' Yea ; who told you ? Did my father tell you ? *
' No, I guessed.'

' Did you though 1 Can you guess what the name
of the school is ? '

' No, I can't do that.'
' Have a try.'

C TIT

Well, then, I guess Kandlebury, because my boy is
there, and it's the only one I can think of.'

The boy stared at her. ' How ever did you know
that ? '

e What ! ' she exclaimed, * you don't mean to tell me
you are going to Randlebury ? '

' I am, though.'

' Well, I never/ cried the good old soul, c who would
have believed it ! Think of your going to the same
school as my Tom.'

' Is Tom your boy's name \ '

' Yes.'

1 Is he a nice boy ? '

Suoh a question to ask any one's mother !

The old lady burst into tears instead of answering

a proceeding which greatly alarmed and disconcerted
my master.

' Don't cry/ he said excitedly. * Look here I I
didn't mean — oh, don't I l6ok here, shall I tell you
the time ? It's — it's sixteen minutes to four — I didn't
mean, you know. Of course he's a nice boy — oh,
don't cry ! '

And he got into such a state that the old lady dried
her eyes at once.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 27

'Never mind me, dear," said she, ' it wasn't you
made me cry 2 it was thinking of my Tom. You'll
be a good friend to him, won't you, dear ? *

' Perhaps he won't like me.'

' Now I'm sure he will,' exclaimed the lady warmly ;

so warmly that I quite loved her for my little master's

sake. Both were silent for some time, and then

Charlie asked,

' I say, has he got a watch ? '

' No.'

' Oh, never mind/ said he, in a tone of evident
relief, ' I can tell him the time, you know, whenever
he wants to know/

' To be sure you can/

Then Charlie took to polishing me and the chain

up again, an occupation which lasted until we arrived

at Gunborough Junction, where passengers changed
for Kandlebury.

' Good-bye, dear/ said the old lady, as Charlie
proceeded to get together his things.

' Good-bye/ said he. * Would you like to know the
time before I go ? It's eight past five. Good-bye/

' May I give you a kiss ? ' said she.

Charlie blushed, but offered his cheek hurriedly.

' And you promise to be a good friend to Tom,'
said she, kissing him, ' won't you ? '

' All right/ said the boy, jumping out on to the
platform, and running to see after his luggage.

In a moment however he returned to the window
and put his head in.

' I say/ said he, ' what's his name — Tom what ? '

' Drift/ said the old lady, ' Tom Drift ! '

28 THE ADVENTURES OF

1 Oh ! f replied my master, ' all right, good-bye ; *
and next minute the train went on, and he was left
standing surrounded by his luggage in the middle of
the platform, like a lighthouse in the middle of an
island.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 29

CHAPTER III

M

How my master and I reach Randlebury in state,

and of a great calamity.

Y master and I had nearly an hour to wait on
the platform at Gunborough before the Randle-
bury train came up. Part of this interval Charlie,
for fear he might forget to do it at night, devoted
to winding me up ; an experiment which nearly
closed my career for ever, for he first began to turn
the key the wrong way ; then, when he had discovered
his mistake, he started in the other direction with a
sudden dash, and finally overwound me to such an
extent that I expected every second to hear my heart
break with the strain.

Then he sat on his boxes, whistling to himself and
drumming his heels on the platform. The train came
up at last, and in he jumped, finding himself and a
5 rave elderly gentleman in joint possession of the
carriage.

Charlie was too busy staring out of the window,
whistling, and brushing the dust off his new hat, to
take much notice of his companion until the train
was fairly started ; then, observing the gentleman

30 THE ADVENTURES OF

look at his watch, the boy at once recognized a bond
of sympathy and pulled out me.

' I wonder if I'm the same as you ? ' he said
eagerly.

* I hope you are not,' said the gentleman, ' for I'm
a quarter of an hour fast.'

' Are you though ? ' said the boy, in astonishment.
1 Why don't you put it right ? I would.'

* It's a bad thing to put a watch back, my boy ;
besides, I rather like keeping mine a little fast.'

' Do you ? I say, do you think my watch is a good
one ? ' said Charlie, thrusting me into the hands of
his astonished travelling companion.

' I can't say, my boy. I know nothing about
watches. It looks a nice one.'

' Yes, father gave it me. I say, are you going to
Randlebury ? J

' Yes.'

' Do you know the school ? I'm going there.'
1 Oh, yes ; I know the school. And you are going
there, are you ? ? inquired the gentleman, with in-
terest.

' Yes, I'm a new boy, you know.'
1 And how do you like going to school ? *
1 Oh, all right ; only I don't know what it'll be like.
Eat I say, I don't suppose there's many of the boys
my age have got watches, do you ? '

The gentleman laughed. ' I dare say not,' he said.
Charlie was silent for a time, and then asked,

' I say, what sort of fellow's the head master ; do

you know 1 '

1 I've seen him now and then,' said the gentleman.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 31

* Is he awfully stuck up and strict ? * asked the boy
anxiously.

* I really don't know/ said the gentleman, biting his
lips ; * I hope not.'

' So do I. I wish my father was the head master,'
gaid Charlie, the tears for a moment starting to his
ryes at the bare thought of such happiness.

The gentleman looked at him very kindly, and said,

' Cheer up, my little man ; perhaps it won't be so
bad after all.'

Charlie smiled again as he said,

' Oh, yes, I've got to be brave, you know, because I
promised father. But I say, if you ever come to the
school, ask for me — my name's Charlie Newcome
will you ? because I don't know any of the fellows ;
and besides/ added he, brightening at the idea,

1 we can see if our watches are going the same, you
know.'

The gentleman promised, arid soon after this the
train arrived at Randlebury. The boy bid his com-
panion farewell, and went off as before to look after
his belongings.

As he was standing surrounded by his baggage, a
man in the dress of a coachman came up to him and
said,

' Are you the young party from London for the
school ? '

' Yes/ replied the boy.

' It's all right/ said the man ; ' give us hold of these
things, and jump inside my trap.'

' How far is it ? ' he asked of the man.

* Better of three miles/

32 THE ADVENTURES OF

* Is it, though ? I say, can't you put the things
inside, and then I can ride on the box ? '

* All square/ said the man ; ' hop up, my young
ban tarn.'

The young bantam did hop up, and they were soon
on their way to the school.

I need hardly say it was not long before Charlie
and the driver were on confidential terms. The boy
duly produced first me and then his six-bladed knife
to the admiring eyes of his new companion, insisting
on his taking both into his hands, and demanding his
candid opinion on their merits.

Presently a wholly new idea seemed to strike him.

* I say, driver, what's your name ? '
Tim, if you want to know/ replied that public

' Ti

servant .

' Well, Jim, I wish you'd just get inside and look
after the luggage, and let me drive ; will you ? '

The man opened his eves and his mouth at tha
proposition, and then bursting out laughing.

' Hark at him ! ' he exclaimed ; ' did you ever hear
the like ? Me get inside and let a young shaver like
him drive me — ho ! ho ! 9

' Come along, Jim ; I know the way ; and it would
be a lark. Come on, dear Jim.'

And the boy got quite affectionate in his eagerness,

' Dear Jim/ who was one of those easy-going men
who don't take much persuading when they're ap-
proached the right way, at length consented to hand
over the reins to Charlie ; and after waiting some time
to see for himself that the boy could really manage,
after a fashion, to drive the horse, he further gratified

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 33

him by descending from the box, and leaving him in
sole possession of the coveted position.

' Get inside, Jim/ cried the boy, with beaming face,

Jim, his face all one grin, obeyed, saying, as he did
so,

1 Well, if you ain't a queer one ! That's the house
there, on the top of that hill. Mind how you go, now.'

( All right ; you get inside. And I say, Jim,' added
the boy, leaning down from his perch, s make yourself
comfortable, you know, and don't bother about me.
I want to drive all by myself, and you aren't to help
me a bit, mind.'

So the driver got inside, and seating himself among
the luggage, proceeded to make himself ' comfortable,'
as instructed.

Meanwhile my master, as proud as an emperor,
lashed his steed into a canter, and rat Lied off in the
direction of the school.

'That'll astonish some of them caps and gowns, I
reckon/ I heard cabby say to himself. s You see,
if he don't drive us right up to the front door, as com-
fortable as if we was the sheriff of the county/

You may imagine what was the astonishment of
the grave and reverend authorities at Ilandlebury
School when they perceived, coming up the carriage
drive, a cab with a boy of thirteen perched on the
box, tugging at the reins, hallooing to the horse, and
making his whip crack like so many fireworks ; while
inside, comfortably lounging amid a pile of luggage,
reclined cabby at his ease, grinning from ear to
ear.

The young Jehu, perfectly innocent of the sensa-

34 THE ADVENTURES OF

tion he was making, pursued his triumphant career
at full speed up to the very hall door, pulling up his
steed with such a sudden jerk as almost to bring him
into a sitting position, while the piled-up luggage
inside fell all about the cab with the shock, to the
imminent risk of cabby's life.

' Well, if that ain't one way of doing it, I don't
know what is I ' exclaimed that astonished charioteer,
emerging from his precarious quarters. ' Down you

jump, young un.'

Charlie descended, all jubilant with triumph, and
pulling out me, exclaimed, ' We did that three miles
in half an hour— not bad, was it % '

In his excitement he had not observed that the
door of the house had opened, and that these words,
instead of being addressed to the cabby, had been
spoken to a stately female who stood in the portal
before him.

Now however he caught sight of her, and not
knowing exactly what was the proper thing to do
under the circumstances, stared at her.

' What do you say, young man ? ' inquired she, in a
solemn voice.

I Oh,' said the boy, ' I didn't know it was you. I
was telling Jim we had come from the station in half
an hour. You know we started at 6.2 by my watch,
and it's just 6.33 now. Would you like to see for
yourself, marm ? ' added he, preparing to unfasten the
chain.

I I know what the time is, young man,' replied she
sternly ; ' and pray, who is Jim ? ' she asked, looking
down in solemn perplexity at this queer boy.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 35

1 Oh, he's the driver is Jim, and he got inside,
you know, and I've driven nearly all the way up by
myself ; haven't I, Jim ? '

' Come inside, sir/ said the matron hurriedly, ' and
don't stand talking to vulgar cabmen and calling them
by their Christian names. Your name is Charles
Newcome, I suppose ? Come this way.'

Charlie followed her in, his enthusiasm rather
damped at this somewhat frigid greeting, and sorry
in his heart he had not been allowed an opportunity
of bidding farewell to his friend the driver.

And now I could hear the little fellow's heart begin
to beat quicker as he found himself at length for the
first time in his life inside a public school. The rows
of caps in the corridors, the distant hum of voices
through half-opened doors, the occasional shout from

the playground, and the fleeting vision of a master in
cap and gown, all had for him the deepest and most
mysterious interest. As he sat waiting in the matron's
room while that worthy lady went to superintend the
bringing in of his luggage, his mind became full of
wonderings and misgivings. I who lay so near the
seat of his emotions could tell what was going on in
his breast. He wondered if the pair of socks lying on
the table with a hole in each heel, which appeared to
be waiting their turn for mending, belonged to the
son of the old lady he had met in the train. He
wondered if the footsteps in the passage belonged to
the head master, and whether that awful being was
being fetched to punish him for his crime of driving
the cab. He wondered who the boy was who put his
head in at the door and drew it back again. With

3D THE ADVENTURES OF

what reverential eyes he followed that hero's retreating
form, and how he hung on his whistling.

When would he, he wondered, be sufficiently hardy
to whistle within those awful walls ? Then he won-
dered if he was the only new boy, and if so, whether
every one would stare at him and laugh at his new
coat. He wished he'd got his old one on, then be
wouldn't have felt so brand-new. And then — and
then

But here, tired out with his long journey and the
excitement of the day, a drowsy fit came over him,
and without another thought he dropped off to sleep,
where he sat. In this attitude the housekeeper found
him when she returned.

She could not help feeling rather more than a com-
mon interest in this curly-haired, tired-out little fellow,
as he sat there in his new clothes, huddled up, with
his little hat slipping from his head, and his hand
clasping his precious six-bladed knife. Accustomed
as she was to boys and their rude ways, this matron
had a good deal of softness left in her heart, and I
dare say she thought as she watched Charlie that
afternoon that if she had ever had a son of her own
she would have liked a boy something like the little
fellow before her. She went softly up to him, took
his hat from its perilous situation, and, lifting him in
her strong arms so gently as not to wake him, laid
him on her own sofa, and left him there to enjoy his
well-merited sleep, while she busied herself about
making tea.

It was at this moment that a calamity befell me,
which, in my inexperience of the ways and natures

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 37

of watches, I imagined to be nothing short of fatal.
The excitement through which I had passed, and the
rough-and-ready usage to which I had been subjected
during the day, seemed all of a sudden to overpower
me. In some unaccountable way I found my hands
caught together in a manner I had never known them
io be before ; no effort of mine could disengage them,
and the exertion thus required, added to the fatigues
of the day, produced a sort of paralysis of my whole
system without quite losing consciousness. I could
feel my circulation become slower and finally stop ;
my nerves and energies became suspended, and my
hands grew numb and powerless. Even my heart
ceased to beat, and the little cry of alarm which I
gave just before my powers left me failed to bring
me any help. I was ill, very ill indeed ; to me it
seemed as if my last moment had come, and I could
not bear the thought of thus early being taken from
my young master, whom already I had learned to
love as my best, though my roughest friend.

How long I lay thus, speechless and helpless, I
cannot say. Once I was just conscious of a slight
jerk from my chain as he peeped in and whispered,

* What are you so quiet about down there ? '

Of course I could not answer.

( Do you hear ? What are you so quiet about ? '

It only added to my misery to know that there was
a fellow-being so close at hand, and yet that I was
powerless to make him aware of my condition. My
silence offended him, for he turned away, muttering
to himself,

3 8 THE ADVENTURES OF

1 Sulky humbug ! I declare some people haven't so
much as the manners of a kitchen clock.'

After that I was left to myself, in agony and sus-
pense, to wait the moment of my dissolution.

A long time passed before my master stirred, and
when he did the housekeeper's tea was cold. She
bustled about to make him some more, and was so
kind in buttering his toast and hunting for some jam,
that the drooping spirits of the tired-out boy revived
wonderfully. Indeed, as the meal proceeded he became
on friendly and confidential terms even with so awful
a personage as Mrs, Packer.

' Would you like to see my knife, ma'am? ' he asked.

' Bless me, what a knife it is/ cried the lady. * You'll
go doing yourself some harm with it.'

' That's what the other old lady in the train said,'

replied Charlie, unconscious of wounding the feelings
of his hostess, who fondly imagined she was not more
than middle-aged ; ' but then, you know, she thought
it was a fine knife, and I think so too, don't you ? I
say, marm, do you know Tom Drift ? '

The change of subject was so sudden that Mrs.
Packer stared at the boy, half wondering whether he
was not talking in his sleep.

* What about him ? ' she inquired.

" Oh, only the old lady was his mother, and I
promised her — at least she said — do you know Tom
Drift, ma'am ? '

' To be sure ; he's one of the boys here.'

* Yes — I say, ma'am, might I see Tom Drift, do you
think ? I've got something to say to him.'

Mrs. Packer, wholly at a loss to understand her

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 39

youthful guest, but at the same time disposed to be
indulgent to his little whims, said Tom would be at
lessons now, and she didn't think he would be able to
come.

1 Wouldn't it do in the morning ? '

' Oh no/ said Charlie, with the gravest face. ' I
must see him to-night, please, if you don't mind.'

The housekeeper concluded that Charlie had some
important message from the mother to her son, and
therefore rang for a servant, whom she despatched
with a message to Master Drift that some one wanted
to see him.

In a very little time that hero made his appearance ;
and as he was the first Randlebury boy Charlie had set
eyes on, he appeared for a moment a very awful and
a very sublime personage in that little new boy's
eves. But Charlie was too intent on his mission to
allow himself to be quite overawed.

' Here's a new boy, Master Drift, wants to speak to
you.'

' What do you want, young un — eh ? '

' Oh, it's all right, Tom Drift ; only I saw your
mother, you know, in the train, and she said you were
a nice boy, and she sent her love, and I told her
I'd let you know the time whenever you wanted, be-
cause you ain't got a watch, you know, and I have.
I say, would you like to know the time now, Tom

Drift ? '

All this was rattled out with such eager volubility,

that Tom Drift, hero as he was, was fairly taken aback,
and looked quite sheepish, as the beaming boy pro-
ceeded to pull me out of his pocket.

40 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Well, it's just— hullo ! '

He saw In an instant something was wrong.

' Why, it says only half-past six — that must be
wroii

* It's eight o'clock by the hall clock/ said Mrs.
Packer ; ' it's just now struck.'

Charlie looked at me, opened mo, held me to his
ear, and then exclaimed,

' Oh ! my watch has stopped ! My watch has
stopped ! What shall I do ? ' and the poor boy, over-
whelmed with his misfortune, held me out appealingly,
and scarcely restrained the tears which started to hia
eyes.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 41

CHAPTER IV

How I was cured of my ailments, and how my

master began life at Randlebury.

ALL this while Tom Drift had said nothing, but had
stood regarding first my master, and then me,
with mingled amusement, pity, and astonishment. At
last, when poor Charlie fairly thrust me into his hands,

that he might see with his own eyes the calamity

which had befallen the watch that had been destined
to minister such consolation to his time-inquiring
mind, he took me gingerly, and stared at me as if I
had been a toad or a dead rat.

' Can't you make it go, Tom Drift ? Please do/

' How can I make him go ? I don't know what's
the row/

' Do you think it would be a good thing to wind it
up ? ' asked Charlie.

1 Don't know ; you might try/

Charlie did wind me up ; but that was not what I
wanted. Already I had had that done while waitin
at Gunborough Junction.

* What do you say to shaking him ? ' asked Tom
Drift presently. Most people spoke of mo as 'it/ but
Tom Drift always called me ' him/

42 THE ADVENTURES OF

' I hardly like,' said Charlie ; ' you try/

Tom took me and solemnly shook me ; it was no
use. I still remained speechless and helpless.

' Suppose we shove his wheels on ? ' next suggested
that sage philosopher.

Charlie demurred a little at this ; it seemed almost
too bold a remedy, even for him ; however he 3 T ielded
to Tom's superior judgment.

The heir of the house of Drift accordingly took a
pin from the lining of his jacket, and, taking off my
coat and waistcoat, proceeded first to procl one of my
wheels and then another, but in vain. They just
moved for an instant but then halted again, as stiff
and lifeless as ever.

For a moment the profound Tom seemed baffled,
and then at last a brilliant idea occurred to
him.

' I tell you what, I expect he's got damp, or cold,
or something. We'd better warm him ! '

And the two bovs knelt before the fire with me
between them, turning me at the end of my chain so
as to get the warmth on all sides, like a leg of mutton
on a spit.

Of course that had no effect. What was to be done ?
No winding up, no shaking, no irritation of my wheels
with a pin, no warming of me at the fire, could avail
anything. They were ready to give me up. Suddenly,
however, Tom, who had been examining my face
minutely, burst into a loud laugh.

* What a young donkey you are ! ' he cried. ' Don't
you see his hands are caught ? That's what's the
matter. The minute hand's got bent, and can't get

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 43

over the hour hand. You're a nice chap to have a
watch ! '

It might have occurred to Charlie (as it did to me)
that whatever sort of watch-owner the former might
be, a boy who successively shook, tickled, and roasted
me to get me to go, was hardly the one to lecture him
on his failings ; but my master was too delighted at
the prospect of having his treasure cured to be very
critical of the physician. And this time, at last, Tom
Drift had found the real cause of my indisposition.
In endeavouring to pass one another at half-past six,
my two hands had become entangled, and refusing to
proceed in company, had stopped where they were
stopping my circulation and indeed my animation at
the same time.

Once more the astute Tom produced his pin ; and
sticking it under the end of my minute hand, disen-
gaged it from its fellow and bent it back into its
proper position. Instantly, as if by magic, the life
rushed back into my body ; my circulation started

afresh, and my heart beat its old beat. Charlie set up

a shout of jubilation, and almost hugged Tom in his

gratitude. The latter looked very wise and very

condescending — as had he not a right ? — and, handing

me back to my master, said, with the air of a physician

prescribing a course of treatment for a convalescent

patient,

' You'd better shove him on to the right time, and

then keep him quiet, young un. s

This Charlie did, and it would be hard to say which
of us two was the happier at that moment.

I had scarcely been deposited once more into my

44 THE ADVENTURES OF

accustomed pocket, when a loud bell sounded down
the corridors, and made Tom Drift jump as if he had
been shot.

' I say, that's the prayer-bell ! Come on I unless
you want to get into a jolly row.'

And without further words he seized the asto-
nished Charlie by the arm, and ran with him at
full speed along one or two empty passages, dashing
at last in through a big door, which was in the very
act of closing as the two reached it.

Charlie was so confused, and so out of breath with
this astonishing and frantic race, that for a minute
he did not know whether he was standing on his head
or his heels.

There was, however, no time for solving the
problem just then, for Tom Drift, still retaining

his grasp on his arm, dragged him forward,

whispering,

( m

This way ; wasn't that a close shave ? Get in
here, and don't make a noise.*

Charlie obeyed, and found himself in a pew, one
of a congregation of some two hundred boys, assembled
in the school chapel for evening prayers. At the
far end of the chapel he could hear a man's voice,
reading ; but what it said it was impossible for him to
make out, owing to the talking that was going on
around him.

He looked eagerly and curiously down the long
rows of his new schoolfellows, feeling half afraid at
the sight of so many new faces, and half proud of
being a Randlebury boy, with a right to a seat in the
chapel. And as he looked he saw some faces he

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 45

thought he should like, and some that he thought he
would dislike ; there were merry, bright-eyed boys,
like himself, and there were ill-tempered, sullen-
looking boys ; there were boys haggard with hard-
reading, and boys who looked as if their heads were
altogether empty.

But what puzzled and troubled Charlie not a little
was to notice, that though the school was supposed
to be at prayers, and though most of them must have
been within hearing of the reader's voice, a consider-
able proportion of the boys before him were neither
listening nor evincing in their behaviour the slightest
sign of reverence for the service in which they were
engaged.

He was sorry to see that Tom Drift was laughing
and whispering with his companions ; entertaining
them with an account of the way in which he had
set the new ' young un's * watch to rights, and what a
shave they had from being shut out from prayers.
(Charlie wondered, as he noticed all this, whether,
after all, he would have lost much good if that mis-
fortune had happened.) And one or two boys were
chewing toffee ; at least, Charlie thought it must be
toffee, their mouths were so brown, and they made
such a noise over the process of mastication ; some,
with their hands in their pockets, were listlessly staring
up at the roof ; and some were reading books, anything
but prayer-books, under the desk.

Charlie did his best to attend to what the invisible
and inarticulate voice was saying, and tried to recall
what his father had told him about not letting new
scenes and new companions tempt him to forget of

46 THE ADVENTURES OF

neglect the lessons of duty and religion which he had
learned at his parents' home ; but it was not easy
work, and to him it was a relief when all was over,
and the boys proceeded to file out of the chapel.

' Where are they all going ? ' he inquired, turning
round to where Tom Drift had been standing.

That young man, however, was no longer there. He
had gone off to enjoy the questionable luxury of roast
potatoes in a friend's study, entirely forgetting his
young and forlorn charge.

Charlie was puzzled. He was sure he could never
find his way back to Mrs. Packer's through such a
maze of passages, and he knew not where else to

go-

As he stood watching in despair the last remnant

of his fellow-worshippers passing out, and wondering
what was to become of him, he became aware of two
big boys stopping in front of him and looking at him.

" That's him 1 ' said one, whose grammar was per-
haps not his strongest point at this moment.

' Why, he's only a kid I ' said the other, who, being
sixteen, felt fully justified in so designating my young
master.

1 1 can't help that, I know it's him/ said the first.

* I say, you fellow/ added he, addressing Charlie,
1 wasn't it you drove up to the front door in a cab
this afternoon ? '

Charlie trembled in his shoes. More than once had
his heart misgiven him, he had committed an un-
pardonable offence in the mode of his advent to
Bandlebury ; and now, with these two awful accusers
before him, he felt as if his doom was come.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 47

* I'm very sorry/ he began ■ * yes, it was — I didn't
mean, I'm sure.'

' What did you do it for, if you didn't mean, you
young muff ? — why don't you go off to bed ? '

' Because I don't know where to go, and Tom
Drift '

' Do you know Tom Drift ? '

I Yes — that is, I met his mother,' stammered
Charlie, becoming more and more embarrassed.

Both the big boys burst out laughing. ( What a
treat for his mother ! ' said one. ' I suppose she told
you Tom was a real nice boy ? '

* Yes.'

I I thought so ; so he is, isn't he, Joe % ' and both
boys laughed again.

' And she gave you a kiss to take to him % '

* No,' said Charlie, blushing scarlet ; * she did give
me a kiss, but not for him.'

It was a hard effort for the poor boy to come out
with this admission, but candour compelled it.

* Oh, she gave you one for yourself, did she ? ' and
again they laughed. ' What a dear old noodle she
must be ! '

' She was very kind to me,' said Charlie, not liking
ta hear his friend made fun of.

Just then a master came by.

1 What are you three boys doing here ? ' he asked.

1 Please, sir, this is a new boy,' replied he who had
been called Joe, ' and he doesn't know where to go.'

* Hum I ' said the master, ' I thought Mrs. Packer
would have seen after that. Let me see. You had
better take him to your dormitory to-night, Halliday ;

4 3 THE ADVENTURES OF

there's a vacant bed there. Bring him to tha
doctor's room after breakfast to-morrow,' and he

passed on.

' Here's a treat ! ' exclaimed Joe, with a not ill-
natured grin. £ This comes of stopping and talking
to young scarecrows. Come along, youngster ; think
yourself lucky you've been handed over to me. I
wear patent leather boots, and they don't need as
much blacking as some of the fellows'.'

Charlie was at a loss to understand what the material
of Master Halliday's boots had to do with his own
alleged good fortune in falling into the hands of such
a guardian ; but he said nothing, and, reassured by the
good-humoured face of his conductor, followed him
cheerfully from the chapel.

' Hullo, Joe ! got a donkey at last ? ' cried some one,
as the two wended their way up the stairs leading to
the dormitories.

* Looks like it/ was Joe's reply.
It was not very long before Charlie learned that
the four-footed beast thus vaguely referred to was a
polite term which the big boys at Randlebury used to
designate their fags.

'Come in here/ said his conductor, turning in at a
email door.

Charlie found himself inside a small apartment,
measuring about ten feet square, lighted by a small
window, warmed by a small fire, decorated with a
small bookcase, and furnished with a small table, two
email chairs, and a small cupboard.

' This is my den ; and mind when you clean the
window you don't crack that pane more than it ia ;

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 49

and when you brush my things, you know, see the
shelf isn't dirty, because I sometimes keep my worms
there — do you hear ? And now come along to bed ;
they put out lights at half-past nine.'

The mention of the time recalled me instinctively
to Charlie's thoughts. He could not resist the tempta-
tion, suggested half by anxiety and half by vanity,
of taking me out and looking at me.

" Hullo I What, have you got a watch ? *

' Yes,' said Charlie meekly, not exactly knowin
whether his companion would be admiring or indig-
nant with him.

' More than I have,* was all Joe's rejoinder.

Charlie's generosity was at once touched.

' Oh, never mind, we can go shares sometimes, if
you like, you know,' said he, not without an effort.

* I don't want your watch/ was Master Halliday's
somewhat ungracious reply. ' Let's have a look at it,
win you ? '

He took me, and examined me ; and evidently
would not have objected to be the possessor of a watch
himself, though he tried to make it appear it was a
matter of indifference to him.

* Why don't you get your father to give you one \ '
asked Charlie innocently.

' Because I haven't got a father. 5

' Not got a father ! Oh, I am sorry ! M and thf*
starting tears in the little fellow's eyes testified only
too truly to his sincerity. ' Look here/ he added,
* do take the watch, please ; perhaps you would like
it, and my father would give me another.'

Joe Halliday gazed at his young fag in amazement.

50 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Why, you are a queer chap/ he said. ( I wouldn't
take your watch for anything ; but I tell you what,
I'll ask you the time whenever I want to know.'

' Will you really 1 ' cried the delighted Charlie.
• How jolly ! '

1 And look here/ continued Halliday, ' take my
advice, and don't go offering your watch to everybody
who hasn't got a father, or some of them might take
you at your word, and then you'd look foolish. Come
along now. 5

And he led the boy into the dormitory, where there
were about twenty beds, most of them already occu-
pied by boys, and the rest waiting for occupants,
who were rapidly undressing in different parts of the
room.

' Look sharp and tumble in/ said Joe, pointing out
the bed Charlie was to have. ' There's only five
minutes more.'

Charlie, with all the naturalness of innocence, knelt,
as he was always used to do, and said his pra3^ers,
adding a special petition for his dear absent parents,
and another for the poor boy who hadn't got a
father.

He was wholly unaware of the curiosity he had
excited by his entrance into the dormitory, still less
did he imagine the sensation which his simple act of
devotion was creating. Twenty pairs of eyes stared
at the unwonted spectacle of a boy saying his prayers,
and many were the whispered comments which passed
from lip to lip. No one however (had any been bo
inclined) stirred either to disturb or molest him — an
immunity secured to him as much perhaps by the

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 51

fact of his being under the protection of so redoubt-
able a champion as Halliday as by any special feeling
of sympathy for his act.

The good example was not, however, wholly lost,
for that same night, after the lights were out, and
when silence reigned in the room, more than one boy
covered his head with his sheet and tried to recall
one of the early prayers of his childhood.

As for Charlie, with me and the knife under his
pillow, he slept the sleep of the just, and dreamt of
home ; and I can answer for it his weary head never
turned once the livelong night.

52 THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER V

How my master entered and quitted the head
master's study twice in one morning.

HARLIE'S first care in the morning was, as I
need hardly say, to pull me out from under hia
pillow, and consult me as to the time. None of his
companions were astir, so that, not having anything
particular to do, he lay still, and abandoned him-
self to the luxury of an idle half-hour in bed.

His spirits were so greatly revived by his night's
rest that he forgot both the novelty and the loneliness
of his position, and fell to polishing first his knife
and then me as merrily as if he were at home. What
a difference a sound sleep often makes in the aspect of
our affairs ! Twelve hours ago he had felt as if he
could never be sufficiently bold as to whistle within the
walls of Randlebury, and now the first sight and
sound which greeted Halliday's returning senses, as
he sat up and rubbed his eyes, was his young protegi
whistling to himself like a lark, and brightening me
up with all his might with the corner of his blanket
till I glowed again at nearly a red heat.

' Who's that kicking up that row whistling ? '

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 53

growled a voice from the far end of the room ; ' be-
cause I'd like to shy a boot at his head.'

At this Charlie subsided, not desiring to gratify
his unknown auditor in his benevolent desire, and
very soon after jumped up and dressed himself.

* Look here, youngster,' said Joe, ' you'd better do
my study now, as you mayn't have time after break-
fast to-day. You know which room it is — the sixth
on your right when you get downstairs. Cut along,
look sharp, you've a good half-hour.'

Charlie made his way down to the lion's <Ien,
meeting on his way several other discontented f^s,
bound on similar errands. He set himself to ci?an
the window, tidy the cupboard, and generally put
things square, and had succeeded fairly well in this
endeavour by the time his patron made his
appearance.

* What's the time ? ' inquired that lord of creation,
running his eye rapidly round the room at the same
time, to notice how his fag had done his duty.

* It's five minutes to eight,' replied Charlie, after
consulting me, and highly delighted to be thus
appealed to.

' Come along to breakfast, then. You'll have to
sit at a different table from me ; but mind and wait
for me afterwards, for I've got to take you to the

doctor/

So Charlie was conducted down to the hall to
breakfast, and provided with a humble seat at the
foot of the lowest table, while Joe Halhday made his
way with all the dignity that became his years to
distinguished place at the highest.

54 THE ADVENTURES OF

My master found himself among a set of noisy little
boys, who amused themselves during the greater
part of the meal by interchanging volleys of bread
pellets, which much oftener missed their marks than
reached them, in consequence of which he himself
came in for the brunt of the cannonade. Once he
ventured to return one of the random shots which
had found its way to his fingers. Fortune favoured
his aim, and his shaft hit the boy it was intended for
full in the eye.

' Who did that ? ' cried the wounded hero sharply.

' I did,' replied Charlie, quite proud of his achieve-

inent.

' All right, I'll punch your head for it when we get

outside.'

This was by no means what Charlie had expected,
He had imagined the wound would be received in the
same spirit of jest in which it was aimed.

( It was only in fun/ he explained ; ' did it hurt
you 1 '

' Of course it did/ exclaimed the injured youth,
who till Charlie's arrival had been the junior pupil of
the school, and was now delighted to find some one
below himself in the scale of seniority. ' Of course it
did, and you'll catch it.'

All the other boys laughed, and Charlie, who could
not find it in him to be overawed by even so majestic
a hero as little Master Johnny Walker, made the best
of his position.

' Look here/ he said, ' I'll give you three shots at
my mouth, and if you '

' There's too much talking at table six ! ' exclaimed

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 55

ftn awful voice, and instantly every voice was hushed,
including Charlie's, who blushed to the roots of his
hair, and felt as if he had been singled out before the
whole school as a rioter. He gulped down his break-
L\Bt without further argument with Master Walker,
&nd was relieved, when the meal was over, to find
that that doughty warrior appeared to have altered
&is mind about punching his youthful head.

After some time he saw Hamday beckoning to him
from the other side of the room.

'Now you've got to go to the doctor,' said he;
* come along/

This was the first time my master had fully realized

»o solemn nature of the approaching interview, and I
felt his heart flutter as he inquired,

1 1 say, what will ho say to me ? '

1 Oh, all sorts of things ; you'd better mind what
you're up to, I can tell you/ was the reassuring
reply.

' Do you think I shall get in a row for driving the
cab yesterday ? ' faltered Charlie.

' Shouldn't wonder,' was the reply.

1 Oh, dear ! And do you think he saw me hit
Johnny Walker in the eye at breakfast ? '

1 What, were you the boy who was kicking up all
that row ? My eye ! you're in for it ! Here you are ;
I'll knock for you. 1

And giving the poor trembling hoy not so much as
an instant in which to collect his flurried ideas, Joe
gave a rap at the door, which was answered at once
by a sharp ' Come in ! ' from within.

1 Now then,' said Haliiday, ' in you go.'

56 THE ADVENTURES OF

Charlie's knees shook under him, and he hung back
from that awful door in mute terror.

' Come in ! * again cried the voice.

' Do you hear, you young muff ? ' exclaimed Halli-
day. * Won't you catch it ! Go in, will you ? '

And opening the door himself he fairly pushed my
poor master into the head master's study.

Fancy the agony of the poor boy, fully believing
himself a doomed miscreant, entering for the first
time the awful presence of the head master of Randle-
bury School.

He stood there with downcast eyes, not daring to
speak, and rooted to the spot.

' Why, what's the matter, my boy ? '

At the words Charlie started like one electrified.
He had surely heard that voice before somewhere ! He
looked up, and what was his astonishment to find in
his dreaded principal no other than the gentleman
with whom he had yesterday spent such a friendly
hour in the train between Gunborough and Randle-

bury !

And his face was as kind as ever, and his voice
encouraging, as he repeated,

* What's the matter, my man ? has the watch
stopped.'

' Oh, sir/ said Charlie, running up to him, * I am
glad it's you, and I'm so sorry I drove the cab, and
hit Walker in the eye. I'll never do it again ! '

' Tut, tut/ said the head master ; * if you never do
any worse than that, you won't go far wrong. I didn't
tell you who I was yesterday, because I wanted you
to manage for yourself, and fi^ht your own battle

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 57

on first arriving. Now tell me how you have got

on.

And

3.

including my sudden indisposition, and my cure by
Tom Drift.

Dr. Weldon (for that was his name) listened to his
story, and then said,

1 Well, you've made a pretty good beginning. Now
try to remember thi3 : your father has sent you here
for two reasons ; one is that your head may be fur-
nished, and the other is that your character may be
trained. I and your teachers can undertake the first ;
but it depends chiefly on you how the second succeeds.
You will constantly be having to choose for yourself
between what is right and what is wrong, and between
what is true and what is false. Take the advice of
one who has passed through all the temptations you
are likely to meet here — rely always on a wisdom that
is better than your own, and when once you see which
way duty calls, follow that way as if your life depended
on it. Do this, and you'll turn out a far better man
than the man who is talking to you. Whenever you
are in trouble come to me, I shall always be glad to
see you. I promised you, you know, I would ask for
you occasionally, didn't I ? And now let's see what
you've got in your head.'

And then followed a brief examination, conducted
in a way which put Charlie quite at his ease, and so
enabled him to acquit himself with a fair amount of
credit and win from his master a commendation,
which he prized not a little, for it was that his father's
efforts had not been wasted on him.

58 THE ADVENTURES OF

* You will be put in the second form,' said the
doctor, ' and if you work hard, I see no reason why
you should not get up into the third next midsummer.
Now, good-bye. I hope you won't find the head
master of Randlebury is as " stiff and stuck-up a
follow " as you dreaded, and I trust I shall find you aa
honest and brave a fellow as I hoped you would turn
out the first time I saw you. Good-bye.'

Charlie rose to leave with overflowing heart. He
f«ven forgot in the midst of his pleasant emotion to
inquire, as he had fully intended to do, after the doctor's
watch, and if it was still a quarter of an hour fast.

As he left the room he could not help contrasting
with thankfulness his present state of mind with that
in which he had entered it an hour ago. He laughed
at himself for all his foolish fears then, and as for the
future, that seemed now ever so much easier and
brighter.

Outside the door he found Tom Drift passing along
the corridor in a state of great excitement.

i rri

The very chap, I declare,' cried he. * I say } lend
us your watch, young un, will you ? '

run

1 What for ? ' asked Charlie.

* Only a time race. Tom Shadbolt says he car
a mile in 4.40. I say he can't do it under 4.50, and
we've got a bet of half-a-crown a side upon it. So lend
us your watch to time him by/

Charlie hesitated, and a pang passed through his
breast. He knew that one of the things which he had
promised his father was that he would have nothing
to do with betting or gambling in any form, and how
could he obey in this respect if he now lent me for

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 59

the purpose for which I was required ? And yet he
owed Tom Drift no common gratitude for the good
service he had done in setting me right yesterday, and
surely if any one had a right to borrow me it was
he. The struggle was a sore one, but soon decided.

* J can't lend it you, Tom Drift.'

' Why ever not ? ' asked Tom sharply.

* I'm very sorry ; if it had been anything else — but
I promised father I would not gamble.'

' Young ass ! who wants you to gamble ? I only

■r

want you to lend us your watch. 1

' You are gambling, though,' said Charlie timidly.

' And what's that got to do with you, you young
idiot,' exclaimed Drift, fairly losing his temper, ' if
lam?'

* I'm very sorry/ said Charlie, ' especially as you
put it all right. If it was anything else ; but I can't
for this.'

* Look here,' said Drift in a fury, ' we've had fooling
enough. Hand me the watch this moment, or I'll
take it and smash it, and you into the bargain ! '

1 Oh, Tom Drift, don't do that. I would so gladly
for anything else, but I promised father *

' Once more, will you, or will you not ? '

'I can't.'

* Then take that ! ' and next moment Charlie received
a blow full on the chest, which sent him staggering
back against the wall.

Oh, how he wished that moment he had never
owned me !

Tom came upon him with an angry oath, and seized
him by the throat.

bo THE ADVENTURES OF

' Will you give it up ? '
* No/ replied Charlie-
He was fairly roused now ; no boy — certainly no
boy of his sort — can stand quietly by and receive un-
deserved blows. Tom tightened his grip on the boy's
throat, and strove to snatch me from his pocket.
Quick as thought Charlie threw his arms round him,
and, though the smaller boy of the two, extricated
himself from the clutch of the bully, and sent him in
turn staggering back. Livid with rage, Tom rushed
at him ; but Charlie eluded him, and left him to
overbalance himself and fall sprawling on the paved
floor. At this instant the doctor's door opened, and
the head master stood gazing on the scene.

Poor Charlie ! five minutes ago so full of bright
hopes and brave resolutions, and now, under the
eyes of the very man who had inspired in him those
hopes and resolutions, engaged in a common fight
with a schoolfellow !

' What is all this ? ' asked the doctor sternly.
' Come in here, you two.'

Charlie, with sinking heart, entered again that
solemn room, and Drift followed, sulky, and with a
black bruise on his forehead.

Charlie left his antagonist to tell his story after his
own fashion, and was too dispirited either to contradict
him or seek to justify himself. He felt ashamed of
himself, and in his self-humiliation saw neither de-
fence nor extenuation for his conduct.

Drift was dismissed with a few sharp words of re-
proof and warning. Charlie remained longer.

What the doctor said to him, and what he said to

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 61

the doctor, I need not here repeat. Suffice it to say,
the former was able to form a fairer estimate of my
master's conduct than he himself was. He did not
blame him ; he even told him that no boy could ex-
pect to get through his school days without some blows?
and advised him to see they were always on the right
Fide. He talked to him long and seriously about
home, and so comforted him in prospect of future dif-
ficulties and temptations, that when he left that study

the second time, it was as a wiser, though perhaps a
sadder boy than before.

G

62 THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER VI

How my master had both his friends and his

enemies at Randlebury.

THE events of Charlie's first day at Randlebury had
at least taught him one salutary lesson, and that
was, to moderate his enthusiasm with regard to me> and
consequently for the next few weeks I had a quiet
time of it. True enough, my master would occa-
sionally produce me in confidence to a select and
admiring audience, and would ever and again proffer
the use of me to his protector, Joe Halliday, but he
gave up flourishing me in the face of every passer-by,
and took to buttoning his jacket over the chain. I
found my health all the better for this gentler usage,
and showed my gratitude by keeping perfect time from
one week's end to the other.

It is hardly necessary for me to say that Charlie
was not long in making friends at Randlebury.
Indeed some of his acquaintance looked upon this
exceeding friendliness in the boy's disposition as one
of his weak points.

£ I do believe/ said Walcot, who was only four from
the head of the school, to his friend, Joe Halliday, one

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 63

day, about a month after my master's arrival at
Randlebury — ' I do believe that young fag of yours
would chum up to the poker and tongs if there wero
no fellows here.'

' Shouldn't wonder,' said Joe, ' He's a sociable
young beggar, and keeps my den uncommon tidy.
Why, only the other day, when I was in no end of
a vicious temper about being rowed about my Greek
accents, you know, and when I should have been
really grateful to the young scamp if he'd given me
an excuse for kicking him, what should he do but lay
wait for me in my den with a letter from his father,
which he insisted on reading aloud to me. What do
you think it was about ? '

' I couldn't guess/ said Walcot.

' Well, you mu3t know he's lately chummed up very
thick with my young brother Jim in the second, and
would you believe it ? — he took it into his head to sit
down and write to his governor to ask him if he would
give Jim and me each a watch like the one he's got
himself. What do you think of that ? '

V

' Did he, though ? ' exclaimed Walcot, laughing.
* I say, old boy, you'll make your fortune oat of that
youngster ; and what did hia father say ? '

( Oh, he was most polite, of course ; his boy'a
friends were his friends, and all that, and he finished
up by saying he hoped we should both come and
spend Christmas there.'

' Ha ! ha ! and did he send the watches ? '

' No ; I suppose he wants to spy out the land
first.'

( Well,' said Walcot, * the boy's all right with you,

64 THE ADVENTURES OF

but he'll go making a fool of himself some day if he
makes up to everybody he meets.'

My master, in fact, was already a popular boy with
his fellows. He had a select band of admirers among
the youth of the Second Form, who cackled round him
like hens round a bantam. Together they groaned
over their Latin exercises and wrestled with their
decimals ; together they heard the dreaded summons
to the master's desk ; and side by side, I am sorry
to say, they held out their open palms to receive his
cane. If a slate bearing on its surface an outline
effigy of the gentleman who presided over the lessons
of the class was brought to light, and the names of
its perpetrators demanded, Charlie's hand would be
seen among a forest of other upraised, ink-stained
hands, and he would confess with contrition to having
contributed the left eye of the unlucky portrait. And
if, amid the solemn silence which attended a moral
discourse from the master on the evils of gluttony, a
sudden cataract of nuts, apples, turnips, and jam
sandwiches on to the floor should drown the good
man's voice, Charlie would be one of the ill-starred
wights who owned to a partnership in the bag of
good things which had thus miserably burst, and
would proceed with shame first to crawl and grope
on the dusty floor to collect his contraband possessions,
and then solemnly to deposit the same jam, turnips,
and all, on the desk of the offended dominie as a

confiscated forfeit.

By these and many other like experiences Charlie
identified himself with his comrades, and established
many and memorable bonds of sympathy. He took

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 65

the allegiance of his followers and the penalties of
his masters in equal good part. He was not the
boy to glory in his scrapes, but he was the boy to get
into them, and once in, no fear of punishment could
make a tell-tale, a cheat, or a coward of him.

With the elder boys he was also a favourite, for
what big boy does not take pride in patronizing a
plucky, frank youngster ? Patronizing with Charlie
did not mcanjhumiliation. It is true he would quake
at times in tho majestic company of the heroes of
the Sixth Form, but without hanging his head or
toadying. It is one thing to reverence a fellow-
being, and another to kneel and lick his boots.

Altogether Charlie had what is called ' fallen on his
Teet ' at Randlebury. By the end of two months he

was as much at home there as if he had strutted its
halls for two years. His whistle was as shrill as any
in the lobbies, and Mrs. Packer stuck her fingers in
her ears when he burst into her parlour to demand a
clean collar. He had already signalized himself too
on the cricket field, having scored one run (by a leg-
bye) in the never-to-be-forgotten match of First
Form, First Eleven, against Second Form, Second
Eleven ; and he had annihilated the redoubtable
Alfred Redhead in the hundred yards hopping match,
accomplishing that distance in the wonderfully short
time of forty-five seconds I

But the dearest of all his friends was Jim Halliday,
his lord and master's young brother. To Jim, Charlie
opened his own soul, and me, and the knife ; with Jim
he laid his schemes for the future, and arranged, when
he was Governor-General of India and Jim was Prime

66 THE ADVENTURES OF

Minister, he would swop a couple of elephants for one
of Ash and Tackle's best twenty-foot fishing-rods,
with a book of flies complete. With Jim, Charlie
talked about home and his father, and the coming
holidays, till his face shone with the brightness of the
prospect. Nor was the faithful Jim less communi-
cative. He told Charlie all about his sisters down at
Dullfield, where his father had once been clergyman,
and gave it as his opinion that Jenny was the one
Charlie had better marry ; and to Charlie he imparted,
as an awful secret not to be so much as whispered to
any one, that he (Jim) was going to array his imposing
figure for the first time in a tail coat at Christmas.

With two friends on such a footing of confidence, is
it a wonder they clave one to the other in mute'
admiration and affection ? Many a sumptuous supper,

provided at the imminent peril of embargo by the
authorities on the one hand, and capture by hungry
pirates on the other, did they smuggle into port and
■njoy in company ; on many a half-holiday did they
fish for hours in the same pool, or climb the same
tree for the same nest ; what book of Jim's was there
(schoolbooks excepted) that Charlie had not dog's-
eared ; aud was not Charlie's little library annotated
in every page by Jim's elegant thumbs ? In short,
these two were as Gne. David and Jonathan were
nothing to them.

But in the midst of all his comfort and happiness
one continually recurring thought troubled Charlie,
that was about Torn Drift. He had promised the
mother to bo a friend to her son, and although he
owned to himself he neither liked nor admired Tom,

v

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 67

he could not be easy with this broken promise on his
mind.

One day, about a month after the quarrel outside
the head master's study, my master, after a hard
inward struggle, conceived the desperate resolve of
going himself to the lion in his den and seeking a
reconciliation.

He walked quickly to Tom's study, for fear his
resolution might fail him, and knocked a3 boldly as
he could at the door.

' Come in ! ' cried Tom inside.

Charlie entered, and found his late antagonist
sprawling on two chairs, reading a yellow-backed
novel.

At the sight of Charlie he scowled, and looked
anything but conciliatory.

'What do you want ? ' he said angrily.
1 Oh, Tom Drift ! ' cried Chaille, plunging at once
into his subject, ' I do wish you'd be friends ; I am so

sorry I hurt you/

This last was an ill-judged reference ; Tom was
vicious enough about that bruise on his forehead not
to need any reminder of the injuries he had sustained

in that memorable scuffle.

' Get off with you, you little beast ! ' he cried.
* What do you mean by coming here ? '

' I know I've no business, Tom Drift ; but I do so
want to be friends, because — because I promised your
mother, you know.'

s What do I care what you promised my mother ?
I don't want you. Come, off you go, or I'll show you
the way.'

68 THE ADVENTURES OF

Charlie turned to go, yet still lingered. A desperate
struggle was taking place, I could feel, within him,
and then he stammered out, ' I say, Tom Drift, if
you'll only be friends I'll give you my watch/

Poor boy ! Who knows what that offer cost him ?
it was indeed the dearest bribe he had to give.

Tom laughed sneeringly. ' Who wants your watch,
young ass ? — a miserable, second-hand, tin ticker ; I'd
be ashamed to be seen with it. Come, once more,
get out of here or I'll kick you out ! '

Charlie obeyed, miserable and disappointed.

He could stand being spoken roughly to, he could
bear his disappointment, but to hear his father's
precious gift spoken of as a ' miserable, second-hand
tin ticker/ was more than he could endure, and he
made his way back to his room conscious of having

lost more than he had gained by this thankless effort
at reconciliation.

* What are you in the sulks about ? ' inquired Halli-
day that evening, as Charlie was putting away his
lord and master's jam in the cupboard.

' I don't want to be sulky/ Charlie said, ' but I wish
I could make it up with Tom Drift/

' With who ? ' exclaimed Joe, who, as we have before
observed, was subject to occasional lapses of grammar.

* Tom Drift, you know ; we had a row the first
day/

' I know,' replied Joe ; ' about that everlasting watch
of yours, wasn't it ? '

* Yes/ said Charlie, ' I didn't like to lend it him,
because '

know

* You were

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 69

squeamish about something or other he wanted it for.
Well, the watch belonged to you, I suppose, and you
aren't obliged to lend it to anybody. What on earth
do you want to go worrying about the thing any more

for ? '

' I'm not ; only I wanted to be friends with Tom
Drift.'

' What for ? ' demanded Joe.

' Oh, because — because I promised his mother I
would be,' pleaded Charlie.

* All I can say is, you had no business to promise
any one to be friends with a fellow you never saw.'

* But she said he was a nice fellow ; and besides

^

he made my watch go when it had stopped/ added
Charlie, as a great argument.

1 Why, Charlie, you are a greater little noodle than
I took you for. Every one who calls that precious
watch a good name is your master, and you're his
slave.'

1 Not so bad as that, Joe,' said Charlie ; ' but I say,
isn't Tom Drift a nice boy, then ? '

' Isn't he ? that's all/ replied the other. ' I'm not
going to abuse him behind his back, but take my
advice, young un. You are better oS as Tom's enemy
than his friend, and don't you try to make up to him
any more.'

' Why not ? ' asked Charlie in bewilderment.

* Never you mind,' was all Joe's reply ; ' and now

hand me down my Liddell and Scott and make your-
self scarce.'

Charlie, sorely puzzled, did as he was bid.

He certainly was not in love with Tom Drift ; but

jo THE ADVENTURES OF

it was not easy for him to give up, without an effort,
his promise to be his friend.

Tom, however, was by no means in need of friends.
Not many weeks after the day when Charlie had left
his study, disappointed and miserable, he might have
been seen entertaining compo.ny of quite a different sort.

[My readers, let me here observe, must not be too
curious to understand how it is I am able to speak of
so many things which must have taken place beyond
the range of my observation. They will find the
reason all in good time.]

The supper party over which Tom presided con-
sisted of four boys, including himself. One was Shad-
bolt, on whose account, it will be remembered, Tom
had desired to borrow Charlie's watch. Shadbolt was
an unwholesome-looking fellow of fifteen, with coarse

features and eyes that could not look you straight in
the face if they bad tried. He was accompanied by
his chum Margetson, who certainly had the advantage
of his friend in looks, as well as in intellect. The
quartet was completed by Gus Burke, one of the
smallest and most vicious boys at Randlebury. He
was the son of a country squire, who had the unen-
viable reputation of being one of the hardest drinkers
and fastest riders in his county ; and the boy had
already shown himself only too apt a pupil in the
lessons in the midst of which his childhood had been
passed. He had at his tongue's tip all the slang of
the stables and all the blackguardisms of the betting-
ring; and boy — almost child — as he was, he affected
the swagger and habits of a ' fast man/ like a true son
of his father.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH yr

At Rancllebury ho had wrought incredible mischief.
Tom Drift was not the only soft-minded vain boy
whom he had infected by his pernicious example.
Like all reckless swaggerers, he had his band of ad-
mirers, who marked every action and drank in every
word that fell from their hero's lips,

It was just with such boys as Drift that his influence
was most telling ; for Tom was a boy not without
aptitude to note and emulate a powerful example,
whether it were good or bad, while his vanity rendered
him as pliant as wax to the hand of the flatterer.

Such was the party which assembled surreptitiously
in Tom's study that evening and partook of the smug-
gled supper.

Tom had had hard work to provide for his guests,
and had succeeded only at the risk of grave penalties
if detected.

^

* I say, Tom, old horse, this is a prime spread ! ' said
Gus ; ' where did you got it ? '

1 Oh ! ' said Tom, ' I had a new hat coming from
Tiler's, so I got old Tripes (the butcher) to make a
noat brown-paper parcel of the kidneys, and got them
up in my gossamer. The old donkey might have done
the thing better though, for the juice squeezed through,
and the inside of my hat Iook3 as if I had lately been
scalped.'

' Hard lines ! But never mind, perhaps they'll put
it down to the crack you got on your forehead.'

Tom flushed scarlet; any reference to his inglorious
scuffle with Charlie Newcome was odious to him, as
Gus and the others knew well enough. He said
nothing, however, only scowled angrily.

j2 THE ADVENTURES OF

' What ! ' Baid Gus, * does it hurt vou still then 1

wouldn

ashamed of having floored you myself. 1

dn

' Did you ? Rather a way fellows have when they
get knocked down I '

v ' I was not knocked down, Gus, I tell you ; and
you'd better shut up ! '

' All right, old horse ! you mustn't mind a bit of
chaff. I'm sure you've taken it all very well.'

1 Yes,' said Margetson, ' everybody thinks you
must take after your mother ; you're such a sweet-
tempered chap.'

' What do you know about my mother ? ' snarled
Tom.

* Only what your young friend tells everybody

about her.'

' What business has he to go talking all over the
school about my affairs ? ' exclaimed Tom furiously.
1 What's my mother to do with him ? '

* A great deal, it seems/ replied Margetson, ' for
he promised her, on the strength of her assertion that
you were a nice boy, to be your friend, and now
he's awfully hurt you won't let him.'

1 I thought it was Tom w T ho was awfully hurt,' put
in Gus, by way of parenthesis.

' I tell you what it is, you fellows/ said Tom, ' it
may be all very funny for you, but I've had quite
enough of it. Ever since that young canting humbug
came here I've led the life of a dog. If, instead of
making a fool of me, you'd tell me how I can pay him
out, I should be better pleased.'

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 73

* All very fine/ said Margetson ; * why don't you
pay your own bills ? '

'If you want some one to punch his head,' said
Shadbolt the ugly, * I don't mind trying ; my life is
insured.'

' Suppose we make him stupid/ suggested Gus,
1 with milk punch, and shove him inside the doctor's
study/

4 Couldn't you get hold of his watch and boil it ? '
said Margetson, who had heard of the experiments
practised on me in Mrs. Packer's parlour.

1 If I got hold of it I'd smash it into fifty pieces ! '
growled Tom between his teeth.

' Look here, you fellows, I've got a glorious plan! '
exclaimed Gus suddenly,

1 What is it ? ' they all cried.

But Gus's plan requires a new chapter.

74 THE ADVENTURES OF

G

CHAPTER VII

How a pleasant treat in store was prepared for

my master.

US proceeded then to divulge his plan for giving

Tom Drift bis revenge on rny master.

' Let's take him to Gurley races on Saturday,' said

he. ' You know it's a holiday, and if we can only get

him with us, we'll astonish hi3 sanctimonious young

soul. What do you say ? '

' You'll never get him to come/ said Margetson.

* Won't wo ? We'll see about that/ replied Gus,
1 he needn't know where he's going.'

' But even so,' said Drift, ' you won't get him ; he's
not in love with me, and I don't fancy any of you are
much in his line.'

' Oh, you'll have to manage that part, Tom. You
know how the young idiot's pining to make it up with
you, for your dear old mother's sake ! '

* Now you needn't start that nonsense again/ put in
Tom sulkily.

1 All right ; but don't you see, if you were to take a
forgiving fit and make up to him, and talk about the

h

old lady and his watch, and all that, he'd be out of

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 75

his wits with joy ? and then if you asked him to come
for a day's fishing on Saturday, we could meet you
somewhere on the road, and then he'd have to come
whether he liked or not ; and won't we astonish him ! '
Tom mused a little.

* It's not a bad idea/ said ho presently, * if it would
only work. But I can't make up to the young puppy
as you think. Ten to one I should stop short in the
middle and kick him.'

' That would spoil all the fun. Try it on, any way,
it'll be a nice little excitement to have young Innocent
with us. And now, Tom, where are blacks and reds ;
I'm just in the humour for a rubber, aren't you ? '

The host produced from a locked desk a dirty and
much-worn pack of cards, and the party sat down
to play.

They played for penny points, and as Gus and
Margetson were partners, it is hardly necessary to say
that Drift and his ill-looking friend lost every
game.

Before this amiable and congenial quartet separated,
Gus had referred again to the scheme of getting
Charlie to Gurley races, and got Drift to promise ha
would secure his victim next day.

Next day, accordingly, as Charlie was in the midst
of a desperate game of fives with his friend Jim, a
small boy came to him and said that Tom Drift
wanted him.

* What for ? ' demanded Charlie, who, since his talk
with the elder Halliday, had felt somewhat ' &hy '
about Tom.

' I don't know,' said the boy.

76 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Your turn, Charlie/ called out Jim from the end of
the court.

Charlie took his turn while he was revolving on his
answer to this mysterious summons.

' What does that child want ? ' inquired Jim, with
all the loftiness of a second-form boy speaking of a
first.

' He says Tom Drift wants me/

1 Whew ! ' whistled Jim, who of course knew tho

whole mystery of the affair between his chum and

Tern ; ' tell him to go to Jericho ! Look out for

yourself ! '

And so saying, he took his turn with the ball.

' That wouldn't do/ said Charlie ; ' I don't want to
rile him.'

' Fd like to have a chance/ retorted the implacable
Jim. ' Well, then, tell him you can't come. Here,
young un, tell Tom Drift Charlie can't come. Do you
hear ? Cut your sticks ! '

But Charlie called the messenger back, ' I could go

r

if I wanted, Jim. Better tell him I'd rather not come.
Say that, youngster — I'd rather not.*

So off the youngster ran, and Charlie and Jim
finished their game. Of course, the youthful mes-
senger gave Tom a full, true, and particular account
of this conversation in all its details, which rendered
that young gentleman rather less eager than ever for
his enterprise. However, he had the fear of Gus
before his eyes, and strolled out into the playground
on the chance of coming across Charlie.

And he did come across him, arm-in-arm with the
faithful Jim. Tom worked his face into the ghastly

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 77

similitude of a friendly smile as he approached, and
said, in as genial a voice as he could pretend, * I'm
glad I met you, Newcome, because I want to speak to
you, if you don't mind taking a turn round the play-
ground/

Charlie, of course, was astonished ; he had expected
at the very least to be kicked over the wall when he
saw Tom approach, and he was utterly at a loss to
understand this not unfriendly greeting. Innocent
boy ! it never occurred to him the demonstration
could be anything but real. Jim would have been
a tougher subject to deal with. Indeed, as he let go
Charlie's arm, and saw him walk off with Tom, he
muttered to himself, not caring particularly whether
the latter heard him or not.

* Gammon ! that's what it is.'

Charlie had not long to wait before his companion
began the conversation.

' I suppose you wonder why I want you, Newcome ? '
said he. ' The fact is, I've been thinking I wasn't
altogether right in being down on you the other day
about lending me that watch, especially as you were a
new boy; and I'm sorry if I hurt you/

Charlie sprung towards him and caught his arm.

' Oh, Tom Drift, don't say that, please ! It was my
fault — all my fault, and I have been so sorry ever
since. And you will be friends now, won't you ? I do
80 want to be, because I promised your mother '

Tom gave a quick gesture of impatience, which, if
Charlie had understood, he would have known how near
receiving a kick he was at that moment.

Tom, however, restrained himself, and said,

78 THE ADVENTURES OF

1 Oh, yes, for her sake I'd like to be friends, of
course, and I hope you'll forget all about that
wretched quarrel.'

' Indeed I will,' cried Charlie ; * and don't let us say
eny more about it. I am ever so much happier now,
and it was so good of you to come to me and make
it up.'

' Well/ said Tom loftily, 'you know it's no use for
two fellows to be at loggerheads when it can t>*
helped, and I dare say we shall get on all the better
now. How are you going on in the second ? '

Whereupon Charlie launched into a lengthy and
animated account of his experiences, to which Tom
pretended to listen, but scarcely heard a word.

( So you are fond of fishing ? ' he said, casually, after
the boy had mentioned something on that subject.

' Ain't I, though ? ' cried Charlie, now quite happy,
and his old self again. ' I say, Tom Drift, would you
like to see the new lancewood top I've got to my rod ?
It's a stunner, I can tell you. I'll lend it you, ycu
know, any time you like.'

' Have you caught much since you were here ? '
asked Tom, anxious to get this hateful business

over.

£ No. You know the brook here isn't a good one
for fish, and I don't know anywhere else near.'

* Well, I'll tell you what/ said Tom, as if the idea
had then for the first time occurred to him. ' Suppose
we go off for a regular good day on Saturday ? It's
a holiday, you know, and we could go and try up the
Sharle, near Gurley. There's lots of trout there, and
we are certain to have a good day.'

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 79

' How jolly ! ' exclaimed Charlie. ' It would be
grand. But I say, Tom Drift, are you sure you
wouldn't mind coming ? It wouldn't be a bother

to you, would it ? '

1 Not a bit. I like a good day's fishing. But, I

s a y> young un, you'd better not say anything about
it to any one, or we shall have a swarm of fellows
come too, and that will spoil all the sport.'

'All right/ said Charlie. 'I say what a day we
shall have ! I'll bring my watch and knife, you know,
and some grub, and we can picnic there, eh ? '

1 That'll be splendid. Well, I must go in now, so
good-bye, Newcome, and shake hands,'

What a grip was that ! on one side all trust and
fervour, and on the other all fraud and malice I

Tom Drift was not yet utterly bad. Would that
he had allowed his conscience to speak and his better
self prevail ! Half a dozen times in the course of his
walk from the playground to the school he repented
of the wicked part he was playing in the scheme to
injure Charlie. But half a dozen times the thought
of Gus and his taunts, and the recollection of his
own bruised forehead came to drive out all passing
sentiments of pity or remorse.

Charlie rejoined his chum with a beaming face.

* Well,' asked Jim, ' what has he been saying to
humbug you this time % '

1 Nothing very particular ; and I won't let you call
him a humbug. I say, Jim, old boy, he's made it up
at last, and we're friends, Tom Drift and I ! Hurrah !
I was never so glad, isn't it jolly ? '

Jim by no means shared his friend's enthusiasm.

80 THE ADVENTURES OF

Like his elder brother, he instinctively disliked Tom
Drift, without exactly being able to give a rea-
son.

His reserve, however, had no effect on Charlie's high
spirits. At last the wish of his heart had been gained !
No longer did he walk with the burden of a broken
promise weighting h\6 neck ; no longer did the con-
sciousness of having an enemy oppress him.

* Simpleton ! ' man) 7 of my readers will exclaim.
Perhaps he was ; but even if you laugh at him,, I think
you will hardly despise him for his simple-minded-
ness, for who would not rather be such a one than
the tempter, Tom Drift ?

All that week he was jubilant. Bovs looked round
in astonishment at the shrillness of his whistle and
the ring of his laughter. His corner of the class-
room was a simple Babel, and the number of apples
he bestowed in charity was prodigious.

Something, every one could see, had happened to
make him happier than ever. Few knew what
that something was, and fewer still knew what it
meant.

* What are you up to to-morrow ? ' asked the elder
Halliday of his fag on the Friday evening.

* Fishing,' briskly replied the boy.

' You're for ever fishing,' said Joe. ' I suppose that
young brother of mine is going with you ? '

' No ; Jim's going to play in the match against the
Badgers.'

The ' Badgers/ let me explain, was the name of a
scratch cricket eleven made up of boys in the first,
second and third forms.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 81

' Are you going alone, then ? *

Charlie felt uncomfortable as he answered,

'No/

1 Whom are you going with ? ' pursued the inquiring

Joe.

' A fellow in the fifth who asked me to come.'

' What's his name ? '

Charlie had no help for it now.

1 Tom Drift/ he faltered.

4 Tom Drift I I thought you and he were at
loggerheads.'

' Oh, don't you know we've made it up % He was
awfully kind about it, and said he was sorry, when it
was really my fault, and we shook hands, and to-
morrow we are going to fish in a place he knows

where there's no end of trout.'

' Where's that ? '

1 He didn't want me to tell, for fear everybody
should come and spoil the sport ; but I suppose I
can tell you, though ; it's up the Sharle, near Gur-

ley.'

' Humph I I've fished there before now. Not such

a wonderful lot of fish, either.'

' I suppose you won't be there to - morrow ? f
asked Charlie nervously, afraid of losing the confi-
dence of Tom Drift by attracting strangers to his
waters.

' Not if I know it,' replied Joe. ' I say, youngster,

I thought you had given up the notion of making up

to that fellow ? '

1 I didn't make up to him, only I can't be sorry to

bo friends with him '

82 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Well, I hope you won't be sorry now you've dona
it. Take care what you're about, that's all.'

Charlie was again perplexed to understand why
Halliday seemed to have such a dislike to poor Tom.

Just as he was going off to bed Joe stopped him
and asked,

' By the way, shall you be using your watch to-
morrow ? '

' Well, I promised I'd take it, to see how the time
went ; but I dare say we could do without it, and 1
would like to lend it to you, Halliday.'

* Not a bit of it/ replied the other. ' I can do
without it as well as you. I am going to walk over
to Whitstone Woods and back.'

* Hullo, that's a long trot,' said Charlie. ' It must
be nearly thirty miles.'

' Something like that/ said Joe. ' Walcot and I

are going to make a day of it/

' Which way do you go ? '

' Through Gurley, and then over Rushton Common

and past Slingconib/

1 Never 1 I wish I could do thirty miles at a

stretch.'

will some day. Good-night.'

And Charlie went to bed, to dream of the lance-
wood top of his rod and the trout in the Sharle.

In the meanwhile the conspirators had had another
meeting in Drift's den.

' Well, have you hooked him ? ' asked Gus.

' Yes ; it's all right. He took it all in like a
lamb.'

* And all the school/ said Margetson, ' is talking of

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 83

the great reconciliation, and the gratification which
that event will undoubtedly afford to your venerable
mother.'

* Shut up, will you, Margetson ? I've had quite
enough of that chaff.'

1 But I do assure you, Tom *

* That'll do,' said Tom, snappishly ; and Margetson

did not go the length of saying what it was he was so
ready to assure him of.

' Well/ said Gus, ' we'll meet you and the young
cub at the cross roads by Sharle Bridge. The races
don't begin till twelve, so we shall have lots of time,
I mean to see if we can't get a trap at Gurley, and do
the thing in style. What do you say ? We could
get one for about ten bob.'

1 All serene/ said Margetson. ( I'll fork out my
share/

' You'll pay for me, Tom/ said Shadbolt, ' won't

you ? '

' I'll see/ said Tom.

' All right s that's settled j and you are seeing about
grub, Tom, aren't you ? Don't forget the etceteras.
What time have you told young moony-face 1 '

* Nine. He's sure to be in time/

' Well, we'll start a little before, you know, and
meet you quite by accident, and the young beggar
won't smell a rat till we are safe in Gurley/

* And if he turns cantankerous % 5

* Then we can put Shaddy to look after him/
' Who's going to win the Gurley Plate, Gus ? '

And then the party fell to canvassing the entries
for the morrow's races, and making their bets, in

84 THE ADVENTURES OF

which, of course, Tom stood almost bound to lose,
whichever horse won.

Long ere they had parted company Charlie was
sound asleep and dreaming, with me under his pillow.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 85

CHAPTER VIII

How my master did not catch the fish he

A

expected.

BOUT ten years before the time of my story it
had happened that in a famous battle fought be-
tween her Majesty's troops and those of a hostile
and 6avage king, the colours of the 300th Regiment
were noticed to f be in imminent peril of capture. The
ensign who carried them was wounded, and already a
score of the enemy were rushing forward to seize the
prize and cany it off in triumph to their king.
Suddenly, how r ever, there dashed up to the spot a
young cornet of dragoons, who, seeing the peril of
his fellow-officer and the colours he carried, dragged
him, flag and all, up nearly into his own saddle, and
started off with his precious burden towards a place
of shelter from the fire and spears of the savages.
Before, however, he had gone twenty yards the poor
ensign tumbled to the ground, shot through the heart,
yielding with his dying hands his colours to the
dragoon. That plucky young soldier, wrapping the
torn and stained flag round his body, set his teeth,
stooped forward in his saddle, and, digging his spurs

86 THE ADVENTURES OF

into his horse, galloped for his life. He had a terrific*
gauntlet to run, and grandly he ran it. The friendly
trench was in sight, the cheers of his comrades fell
like music on his ears, a vision of glory and honour
flashed through his mind, and then suddenly he reeled
forward in his seat — a malignant shot had found him
out at last, and, with the colours round him, he
dropped from his horse into his comrades' arms a
dead man.

This hero was an old Randlebury boy ; and ever
since that day, on every anniversary of his glorious
death, Randlebury kept, and still keeps, holiday.

All this Charlie was informed of by his faithful
chum. Jim Halliday, as the former was dressing him-
self on the morning of the eventful holiday in question.
What posessed him to get up at six, when he was

not to start till nine, I cannot say. He even routed

me from under his pillow at five, so fidgety was he,

and as soon as ever I pointed to six he bounced out

of bed as if he was shot.

' What are you up to, getting up at this time ? '

growled Jim, who, much to the mutual delight of the

boys, slept in the same room with Charlie.

' Oh, you know ; I don't want to be behindhand,'
replied Charlie.

' Behindhand ! Why, do you know it's only just six ? *

' I know that, and I mean to make the most of my

holiday. I say, Jim, what do they want to give us a

holiday for, do you know ? *

c They don't want to at all ; they've got to.'

' Got to ? What do you mean ? ' inquired Charlie,

dragging on his boots.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 87

And then Jim, with many yawns and growls, told
him the story ; and, without waiting for his comments
thereon, rolled over and went off to sleep again.

Charlie spent his early hour in polishing up things
generally. When he had polished up his rod with tho
lancewood top, he polished up his gree;3 can and his
hooks. Then he warmed mo up with a piece of wash-
leather, and then his many-fanged knife.

By the time these little jobs were accomplished,
and Joe's study put in order, tho breakfast bell
sounded, and he went down with a mouth sore with
whistling.

He caught sight of Tom Drift at another table, and
nodded and waved his green can to him ; he informed
every boy within hearing distance that it was certain
to be a fine day, whatever it looked like now ; and he
made the wildest and most indiscriminate promises to
entertain his whole acquaintance at no end of a trout
supper on the spoils of that day's sport. Twenty
times during breakfast did he pull me out and look
impatiently at my minute-hand slowly making its
way from eight to nine ; and as soon as ever the
meal was over he rushed upstairs like mad for his rod
and bag, and then tore down again four steps at a
time, nearly knocking the head master over at the
bottom.

' Gently, my man/ said that gentleman, recognizing
in this cannon-ball of a young fellow his little tra-
velling companion. ' Why, what's the matter ? '

* I beg your pardon, doctor,' said Charlie ; * did I
hurt you ? '

' Not a bit. Sc ycu are going to fish to-day ? \

88 THE ADVENTURES OF

* Yes ; sir/ said the beaming Charlie. * I say, sir, do
you think it'll be a fine day ? '

1 1 hope so — good-bye. I suppose this can will be
full when you come back ? '

* Good-bye, sir,' said Charlie, secretly resolving that
if fortune favoured him he would present the two
finest of his trout to the doctor.

He found Drift ready for him when he reached that
young gentleman's study.

Besides his rod, Tom had a somewhat cumbersome
bag, which, as it carried most of the provisions for
the whole party, he was not a little surly about being
burdened with.

Charlie, of course, thought it was his and Tom's
dinner.

* Is that the grub ? * he cried. ' Why, Tom Drift
yea have been laying in a spread ! What a brick
you are 1 Look here, I'll carry it- — isn't it a weight,
though ! If we get all this inside us two we shan't

starve 1 '

And so they started, Charlie lugging along the bag
and whistling like a lark.

' Looks cloudy/ said Tom, who felt he must say
something or other.

* Never mind, all the better for the trout, you
know. I say, I wish I had my fly on the water this
minute.'

A3 Tom was silent, Charlie kept up the conversa-
tion by himself.

* I say, Tom Drift,' said he, ' if your mother could
only see us two chaps going off for a day's fishing
ehe '

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 89

* Look here, draw it mild about my mother, young
un. She can take care of herself well enough.'

Charlie blushed to the roots of his hair at this
rebuke, and for some time the flow of his conversation
was arrested.

It was a good four miles from Randlebury to Sharle
Bridge ; and long ere they reached it Charlie's arm
ached with the ponderous bag he was carrying. He
did not, however, like to say anything, still less to ask
Tom to take a turn at carrying it ; so he plodded on,
changing hands every few minutes, and buoying him-
self up with the prospect of the river and the trout.

Presently they came within sight of the signpost
which marks the junction of the Gurley and Sharle
Bridge roads.

( Here we are at last ! ' cried Charlie, panting and
DufEhig. ' I say, Tom Drift, I don't believe I could
have carried this bag any farther if I'd tried.'

* It'll be lighter when we go home. Hullo ! who
are these three ? ' for at this moment Gus, Margetson,
and Shadbolt made their appearance.

' They look like Randlebury fellows by their caps.
Oh, I know who one of them is/ added Charlie
* Margetson, in the fourth ; don't you know him ? '

' Rather ! ' replied Tom ; ' and the other two are
Shaddy and Gus. Who'd have thought of meeting
them ! ' and he gave a whistle, which succeeded in
attracting the attention of the worthy trio.

Of course their surprise at meeting Tom and his
companion was no less great— in fact, they had to
inquire who the youngster was.

' Where are you off to ? ' demanded Gus.

9 o THE ADVENTURES OF

1 We're going to try our luck up the Sharle,' said
Tom.

' You'll be sold if you do,' said Gus. ' We wera
down looking at it, and a pretty state it's in. Old
Skinner at the Tannery took it into his head to leave
his gates up last night, and his muck has got into the
river and poisoned every fish in it — hasn't it, Shad ? '

1 Rather I ' replied Shad. ' I was glad enough to get
my nose away from the place.*

' Here's a go, Charlie ! ' said Tom, turning to his
young companion.

During this short conversation Charlie had passed
through all the anguish of a bitter disappointment.
It is no light thing to have the hope of days snuffed
out all in a moment, and he was ready to cry with
vexation. However it couldn't be helped, and he had

learned before now how to take a disappointment like
a man. So when Tom appealed to him he put a
good face on it, and said,

' Awful hard lines. Never mind, let's go back and
see the match with the Badgers, Tom.'

' Why don't you come with us ? * asked Gus. ' We
are going to Gurley ; have you ever been to Gurley,
young un ? '

* No,' said Charlie.

* Come along, then, we'll show it you. It's a prime
town, isn't it, Margetson ? '

'Don't ask me, 5 said Margetson; 'I'd sooner see
about Gurley than catch a seven-pounder, any day.'

' And besides,' said Tom, ' isn't there some good
fishing above the lock 1 Come along, Charlie ; we
shall not be baulked of our day's sport after all.'

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 91

Charlie joined the party, although he did not con-
ceive any great admiration for Tom's three friends.
His anxiety not to offend his now reconciled enemy,
and the possibility of fishing after all, overruled him ;
and still dragging the bag, he trudged along with the

others towards Gurley.

As the}' approached the town he could not help
noticing the number of holiday-makers and vehicles
that passed them. There were drags full of gaily-
dressed ladies ; and gentlemen who wore veils ; and
there were light jaunty dog-carts with spruce young
white-hatted gentlemen perched in them ; there were
vans in which corks were popping like musketry fire,
and parties on foot like themselves, hurrying forward
with loud laughter and coarse music.

' Surely/ thought he, ' there's something on at

Gurley/

Presently a waggonette, driven by a very loud
youth in a check suit, and with an enormous cigar
in his mouth, pulled up in passing, and its driver
addressed Gus.

' So you've found your way here, have you, my
young bantam ? Catch you being out of a good
thing. Are you going on the grand stand ? *

( Don't know/ said Gus grandly. * We may pick
up a trap in the town.'

* Ho, ho ! going to do it flash, are you ? Well,
there's one of you could do with a little spice/ added
he, glancing at Charlie. * I suppose my trap's not
grand enough for you.'

' Can you give us a lift, then, Bill % ' asked Gus,
charmed at the idea.

92 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Yes, to be sure ; I've no company to-day. There's
just room. Hop in. I may as well turn an honest
penny as not. Here, you young sinner, jump up
beside me on the box.' And before Charlie knew
where he was or whither he was going he found him-
self on the box of the waggonette beside the flash
youth, and his four friends behind him inside.

* Who's your friend, Gus ? ' he heard Margctson
ask.

' Son of Belsham, who keeps the " Green Tiger " at
Randlebury. We're in luck, I can tell you, you
fellows.'

As Charlie gradually recovered from his bewilder-
ment he felt himself extremely uncomfortable and ill
at ease. From what had been said he had gathered
that the object of the boys in going to Gurley was
something more than to see the town ; and he by no
means liked Gus's new friend, or approved of his easy
familiarity with a low publican's son. It was not long
before his dawning suspicions were fully confirmed.

' So you're going to see the races ? ' asked Mr.
Belsham.

* No, I'm not,' replied Charlie, as curtly as he could,
for he had no desire to encourage the conversation of
this objectionable person.

' Ain't you ? And what are you going to do, then,
my young lamb ? ' And in the course of this brief
sentence Mr. Belsham succeeded in interjecting at
least three oaths.

' I shan't speak to you if you swear/ said Charlie ;
* it's wrong to swear.'

' No 1 is it ? Who says that ! '

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 93

' My father says so/ blurted out Charlie, fully
satisfied that no better reason could be demanded.
Belsham laughed, and turning to the four inside, said,
1 1 say, young gentlemen, this young pippin tells

V

me he's got a father who says it's wrong to swear.
What do you think of that ? '

' His father must be an amusing man,' replied
Gus.

' Wait till we get on to the course/ said Margetson j
1 he'll hear something to astonish him there, young
prig ! '

* I'm not going to the races I ' cried my master,
starting from his seat, and now fully alive to the
fraud of which he had been made the victim. * How
could you do this, Tom Drift I Let me down, will
you ! ' and he struggled so desperately with Belsham
that that gentleman was obliged to let go the reins in
order to hold him.

Of course it was no use Ms resisting. Amid the
shouts and jeers of his schoolfellows he was held on
to the box. In vain he pleaded, besought, struggled,
threatened ; there he was compelled to stay, all
through Gurley and out to the racecourse. Here he
found himself in the midst of a yelling, blaspheming,
drunken multitude, from the sight of whose faces
and the sound of whose words his soul revolted so
vehemently that it lent new vigour to his exhausted
frame, and urged him to one last desperate struggle
to free himself and escape from his tormentors.

* Look here/ said Belsham to Gus ; ' if you suppose
I'm going to have all my fun spoiled by looking after
this cub of yours while you're enjoying yourselves

94 THE ADVENTURES OF

there inside, you're mistaken ; here, look after him
yourselves.'

So saying, he dragged Charlie from his seat and
Bwung him down into the waggonette with such force
that he lay there half stunned and incapable of further
resistance, and so for the time being saved his per-
secutors a good deal of trouble.

And indeed had it been otherwise it is hardly
likely they would have just then been able to pay
him much attention, for at that moment the
horses were all drawn up at the starting-post, waiting
for the signal to go.

That was a feverish moment for Tom Drift. He
had bet all his money on one horse, and if that horse
did not win, he would lose every penny of it.

As usual, he had repented a hundred times of that

day's business, and the last brutal outrage on poor
Charlie had called up even in his seared breast a
fleeting feeling of indescribable shame. It was, alas !
only fleeting.

Next moment he forgot all but the horses. There
they stood in a long restless line. A shout! and they
were off. In the first wild scramble he could catch a
sight of the colours on which his hopes depended near
the front. On they came like the wind. A man
near shouted the name of Tom's horse — * It's win-
ning/ and Tom's head swam at the sound. On still
nearer, and now they have passed. In the retreating,
straggling crowd he can see his horse still, but it
seems to be going back instead of forward. Like a
torrent the others overhaul and pass it. Then a
louder shout than usual proclaims the race over, and

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 95

the favourite beaten, and Tom staggers down to his
seat sick and half stupid.

' Never mind, old man,' he heard Gus say, f luck's
against you this time ; you'll have your turn some
day. Take some of this, man, and never say die.'

And Tom, reckless in his misery, took the proffered
bottle, and drank deeply.

It was late in the afternoon before Belsham thought
of turning his horse's head homeward, and by that
time Charlie, on the floor of the waggonette, was
slowly beginning to recover consciousness.

96 THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER IX

How my master and I had quite as much ex-
citement in one afternoon as was good for us.

UST as they were turning to go, a sudden shout
and rush of people arrested them. The crowd on
the course had been immense, and of the roughest
and lowest description : sharpers, thieves, and roughs
were there by the hundred, attracted from the neigh-
bouring villages by the opportunity of plunder and
riot which Gurley races always afforded. As soon aa
the serious business of the racing was over, this low
mob naturally sought excitement of their own making,
and increasing in disorder and intemperance as the
day wore on, had become beyond control just about
the time when Mr. Belsham, junior, took it into his
muddled head to make a start in the direction of
home. The shout which kept him where he was, was
occasioned by that spectacle dear to the eyes of all
blackguards, a fight. Round the two blood and dust-
stained combatants, the mob surged and yelled. Every
moment it grew denser and wilder ; and every moment
it swayed nearer and nearer to the spot where the
Randlebury boys stood in their waggonette ; and

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 97

before they could move or get clear, they found them-
selves in the very centre of the mob. T Shouts, shrieks,
and wild laughter rose on every side of them ; soma
of the crowd scrambled up on to their wheels to get
a glimpse of the pugilists ; some abused and swore at
them for getting in the way ; some tried to invade
their waggonette, and struck at them when they
resisted.

In the midst of all, Belsham's horse took fright.
There was a wild plunge, a shriek from the crowd in
front, and next moment the five boys were thrown
down among the crowd, while the horse, with the
shattered and overturned vehicle behind him, forced
for himself a ghastly lane through the mob.

Of Gus and his three friends, Charlie, whom the
shock roused to sudden consciousness, could see
nothing. He tried to rise, but the crowd pressed too
■ wildly to give him the chance. For some moments
he lay among a host of crowding, struggling feet,
expecting every moment to be stunned, if not killed.
But by a wonderful providence he escaped the peril.
The crowd gave a sudden swing in a new direction,
and he was left unhurt, though stupefied and almost
unable to stir.

Presently he was conscious of a man standing in
front of him.

' Oh, help me I ' gasped my poor master.

The man seized him roughly by the arm and raised
him to his feet.

1 That's worth a tip,' he growled ; ' come, hand over.'

Charlie put his hand in his pocket and drew out a
shilling.

98 THE ADVENTURES OF

The man scowled.

' Do you suppose I'll take a dirty shilling ? Come,
young swell, empty out them pockets. Look sharp,
I've no time to waste on the like of you."

Tremblingly Charlie obeyed, and gave the man all
the little stock of money he possessed.

But he was not yet to escape. From under his
jacket the greedy eye of the thief had caught a glimpse
of a chain. With a rough hand he tore open
the coat. ' What, a ticker ? Here's luck ; out with it,
come.'

' Oh,' cried Charlie, * take anything but that ! Take
my chain and my knife, but not my watch I '

Hardly and brutally laughed the man as he snatched
me out of the poor boy's hand, and administering a
parting cuff on the head of his victim, turned to
walk off with me in the recesses of one of his filthy
pockets.

Scarcely, however, had he turned, when three men
appeared in front of him, coming in the direction of
Charlie. The boy saw them, and imagine his joy
when in one of the party he recognized his old
acquaintance, the cabman Jim I With a sudden
bound and cry of delight he rushed towards him,
shouting and pointing to the robber. ' Oh, Jim, he's
taken my watch ; get my watch back, Jim '

Jim took in the state of affairs in an instant, and
calling on his two companions to follow him, rushed
upon and secured the thief before the latter was even
aware of their intention. It was vain for one man to
resist three. He was forced to disgorge first me, then
the knife, and then the money. Charlie indeed pleaded

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 99

that they should leave him the money, or some of it,
but this proposal Jim scouted, and in his zeal relieved
the robber of a good deal more than he had stolen

from Charlie. Then with kicks and blows they drove
the wretch away as fast as his legs could carry him.

This done, Jim the cabman had an opportunity of
renewing his acquaintance with my master.

' Well/ said he, ' who'd have thought of seeing you
here ? And what a nice mess you're in. You look
as if '

' Oh, don't,' cried Charlie, holding him by the arm ;
1 it's bad enough as it is, without you thinking ill
of me.'

And then he told him as well as he could how he
had been decoyed to these vile races ; how he had

been kept there by main force ; how he had been

made senseless by their rough treatment, and how,
but for Jim's timely help, he would now have been
robbed and helpless.

Jim listened in astonishment, not unmingled with
many an ejaculation of indignation at the poor boy's
persecutors.

1 And where are they now ? ' he asked, when Charlie
had done.

' I don't know. We were all thrown out, you know,
among the crowd. I only hope they've not been

killed.'

' Well, if I was you,' said the downright cabman, c I
wouldn't break my heart over them. I know Fd like
to have a chance of a quiet talk with the young swells ;
Fd give them something to take home with them,
I would.'

ioo THE ADVENTURES OF

Charlie said nothing, but gratefully put himself
under the protection of his deliverer, who, making a

considerable round to avoid the crush, led him safely

to Gurley.

' There's no trap to be got for love or money, so
you'll just have to walk if you want to get back to
Randlebury to-night.'

Anything to get away from that odious crowd. If
the distance had been twice as far, Charlie would
have undertaken it.

It was long enough, however, before they got away
from the crowd. The road from Gurley to Sharle
Bridge was alive for a mile and more with vehicles,
drunken men and women, beggars and pickpockets.
On either side of the road were jugglers, and thimble-
riggerSj and card-sharpers, who each attracted their
crowd of simpletons. Many were the fights and riots
that attended these eager assemblages. As they
passed one booth, the headquarters of a blustering
card-shaper, a sudden disturbance arose which threat-
ened to block the entire road. The man had offered
a sovereign to any one of his audience who could tell
which of three cards he held uppermost in his hand.
One voice called out a number. The man shuffled
his cards, and by some slip on his part the guess of
the speculator turned out correct. Instantly that
youth demanded his sovereign, which the man refused,
vowing and calling others to witness that another
number had been guessed.

' I'll bring the police,' cried the voice, and instantly
there was a movement in the group as of some one
endeavouring to force his way out.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 101

' Knock him over I ' some one cried ; ' he's only one
of them donkey schoolboys. What business have
they here at all ? ' And at the signal two or three of
the juggler's accomplices made a dash at the retreating
youth and seized him.

' Souse him in the river ! ' cried somebody else.

* Sit on him I ' shouted a third.

In the midst of these contradictory advices the
roughs lifted their struggling victim from his feet,
and proceeded to carry him in the direction of the
bridge.

In the momentary glimpse which Charlie got of

the wretched object of this persecution, he recognized,
to his horror and astonishment, Tom Drift, livid with
terror, frantic with rago, and yelling with pain.

' Jim/ cried Charlie, ' that's Tom Drift ! Oh ! can'
we help him ? Will you try, Jim ? Poor Tom ! '

' Is he one of them four as brought you here ? *
asked Jim, not offering to move.

4 Yes ; but never mind that ; they will drown him ;
eee how furious they are ! Will you help him,
Jim ? '

* Not a bit of me/ replied the stubborn Jim, who
was well content to see the table3 turned on one who
had so brutally ill-treated his young companion.

' Then I must try n^self ; ' and so saying, the boy
of thirteen rushed in among the crowd, and wildly
tried to make his way to where his schoolfellow was
being dragged by his persecutors.

Of course Jim had nothing for it but to back him
up, and in a moment he was beside my young master.

( Let the boy be ! ' he shouted to those who carried

102 THE ADVENTURES OF

Drift, in a voice so loud that for a moment the rabble

stood quiet to hear.

In the midst of this silence Charlie shouted,
' Hold on, Tom Drift, we'll help you if we can.'
Instantly the crowd took up the name.

* Tom Drift ! Yah 1 Souse Tom Drift ! Roll Tom
Drift in the mud I Yah ! Tom Drift ! '

And sure enough Tom Drift would have suffered
the penalty prepared for him, despite Charlie's attempt
at rescue, had not help come at that moment from a
most unexpected quarter.

It will be remembered that Joe Hallidav and his
friend Walcot had planned a long walk on this holi-
day to Whitstone Woods, some ten miles beyond
Gurley.

This plan they had duly carried out, and were now
making the best of their way back to Randlebury
along the crowded highway, when the sudden cry of
a schoolfellow's name startled them.

' Tom Drift ! Yah ! Beggarly schoolboy 1 '

1 1 say, Joe, that's one of our fellows I What's
happening ? '

Joe accosted a passer-by.

1 What's going on ? ' he inquired.

I They're only going to souse a young chap in the
river.'

■ What for ? '

I I don't know ; 'cause he don't think the same as
old Shuffle, the three-card chap.'

' We must do something, Joe/ said Walcot.

* I wish it were any other chap ; but come on, we're
in for it now,' said Joe.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 103

And with that these two broad-shouldered, tall
fellows dashed into the thick of the fray.

Tom's bearers were now at the bridge, which was a
low one, and were turning down towards the water's
edge, when a new cry arrested them.

' Now, Randlebury 1 Put it on, Randlebury ! Who
backs up Randlebury ? '

It was the old familiar cry of the football field, and
at the sound of the well-known voices, Charlie's heart
leapt for joy.

' I do ! ' he shouted, with all his might. c Here you
are, Randlebury 1 '

And Jim's gruff voice took up the cry too.

A panic set in among the blackguards. To them it
seemed that the school was come in force to rescue
their comrade, for on either side the cry rose, and
fighting towards them they could- see at any rate two
stalwart figures, who, they concluded, were but the
leaders of following force. One of the men was hardy
enough to turn at bay at the moment Walcot had
cleared his way at last up to the front. Big bully
though he was, he was no match for the well-con-
ditioned, active athlete who faced him, and Walcot
punished him in a manner that made him glad enough
to take to his heels as fast as he could.

This exploit turned the day. Dropping Tom — how
and where they did not stay to consider — they followed
their retreating companion with all the 6peed they
were capable of, and left the enemy without another
blow masters of the situation.

But if, as a victory, this charge of the Randlebury
boys had been successful, as a rescue it had failed ;

104 THE ADVENTURES OF

for Tom Drift, being literally dropped from the
shoulders of his executioners, had fallen first on to the
parapet of the bridge, and then with a heavy shock
into the stony stream beneath. When Walcot, Joe,
Charlie, and Jim among them, went to pull him out,
he was senseless. At first they thought him merely
stunned by the fall (the stream was only a few inches
deep), but presently when they began to lift him, they
found that his right arm, on which he had fallen, was
broken.

Bandaging the limb as well as they could, and bath-
ing his forehead with water, they succeeded in re-
storing Tom to consciousness, and then, between them,
carried him as gently as possible to the nearest house,
when they managed, with some difficulty, to get a
veliicle to convey them the rest of their journey. It
was a sad, silent journey. To Tom, the pain caused
by every jolt was excruciating. They did their best
to ease him, holding him lying across their knees, while
Jim drove along the level footpath ; but by the time
the school was reached the sufferer was again insen-
sible, a,nd so he remained till the surgeon had set his
arm.

Thus ended the eventful holiday.

Before Charlie went to bed, the doctor sent for him
to his study, and there required to know the true his-
tory of that day's doings. And Charlie told him all.
I need hardly say that, according to his version, the
case against the four culprits was far lighter than had
their impeachment been in other hands. He took to
himself whatever blame he could, and dwelt as little
as possible on the plot that had been laid to get

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 105

him to Gurley, and on the means which had been
used to keep him when once there. He finished
up with a very warm and pathetic appeal for Tom
Drift.

' Don't, please, expel Tom Drift,' he said, in all the
boldness of generosity ; ' he was led on by the others,
sir, and he's punished badly enough as it is. Oh ! sir,
if you'd seen his mother cry, when she only spoke of
him, you couldn't do it.'

' You must leave that to me/ said the doctor sternly,
4 1 hope I shall do nothing that is unjust or unkind.
And now go to bed, and thank God for the care He
has taken of you to-day.'

And Charlie went.

Tom Drift was not expelled. For weeks he lay ill,
and during that time no nurse was more devoted, and
no companion more constant, than Charlie Newcome.
A friendship sprang up between the two, strangely in
contrast with the old footing on which they had stood.
No longer was Tom the vain, hectoring patron, but the
docile penitent, over whose spirit Charlie's character
began from that time to exercise an influence which,
if in the time to come it could always have worked as
it did now, would have gone far to save Tom Drift
from many a bitter fall and experience.

When Tom, a week before the Christmas holidays,
left the sick-room and took his place once more in his
class, Gus, Margetson, and Shadbolt were no longer
inmates of Randlebury School.

io6 THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER X

How I changed hands and quitted Randlebury.

A

ND now, dear reader, we must take a leap together
of three years. For remember, I am not setting
myself to record the life of any one person, or the
events which happened at any one place. I am
writing my own life — or those parts of it which are
most memorable — and therefore it behoves me not to
dwell unduly on times and scenes in which I was not
personally interested.

I had a very close connection with the events that
rendered Charlie's first term at school so exciting,
but after that, for three years, I pursued the even
tenor of my way, performing some twenty-six thousand
two hundred and eighty revolutions, unmarked by any
incident, either in my own life or that of my master
worthy of notice.

By the end of those three years, however, things
were greatly changed at Randlebury. Charlie, not far
from his sixteenth birthday, was now a tall, broad-
shouldered fellow. lording it in the Upper Fifth, and the
hero of the cricket field of which he himself had once
been a cadet. In face he was not greatly altered.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 107

Still the old curly head and bright eyes. He was
noticed occasionally to stroke his chin abstractedly ;
and some envious detractors went so far as to rumour
that, in the lowest recesses of his trunk he had a razor,
wherewith on divers occasions, in dread secret, he
operated with slashing effect. Be this as it might,
Charlie was growing up. He had a fag of his own,
who alternately quaked and rejoiced beneath his eye ;
he wore a fearful and wonderful stick-up collar on
Sundays, and, above all, he treated me with a careless
indifference which contrasted wonderfully with his
former enthusiasm, and betokened only too signifi-
cantly the advance of years on his young head.

True, he wound me up regularly ; but he often left
me half the day under his piilow ; and though once in
a fit of artistic zeal he set himself to hew out a C. N.
in startling characters on my back, with the point of
a bodkin, he never polished me now as he was once
wont to do.

All this was painful to me, especially the operation
with the bodkin, but I still rejoiced to call him master,
and to know that though years had changed his looks,
and sobered his childish exuberance, the same true
heart still beat close to mine, and remained still as
warm and guileless as when little Charlie Newcome,
with me in his pocket, first put his foot forth into the
world.

There were two besides myself who could bear wit-
ness at the end of these three years that time had not

changed the boy's heart. These two, I need hardly
say, were Tom Drift and Jim Halliday.
To Tom, Charlie had become increasingly a friend

108 THE ADVENTURES OF

of the true kind. Ever since the day at Gurley races,
the influence of the younger boy had grown and over-
shadowed the elder, confirming his unstable resolu-
tions, animating his sluggish mind with worthy ambi-
tions, and giving to his pliant character a tone
coloured by his own honesty and uprightness. Just
as a pilot will safety steer the ship amid shoals and
rocks out into the deeper waters, so Charlie, by his
quiet influence, had given Tom's life a new direction
towards honour and usefulness.

Once, and once only, during those three years had
he shown a disposition to hark back on his old dis-
creditable ways, and that was the result of a casual
meeting with Gus one summer during the holidays,
with whom, he afterwards confessed to Charlie, he was
induced to forget for a time his better resolutions in
the snares of a billiard-room. But the backsliding
was repented of almost as soon as committed, and, to
Charlie's anxious eyes, appeared to leave behind no
bad result.

Jim was the same downright outspoken boy as ever.
He had yielded, surlily at first, to the admission of
Tom Drift into the confidence and friendship of him-
self and his chum, but by degrees, moved by Charlie's
example, he had become more hearty, and now these
three boys were the firmest friends in Randlebury.

One day, as Charlie was sitting in his study
attempting, with many groans, to make sense out
of a very obscure passage in Cicero, his fag entered
and said,

* Newcome, there's a parcel for you down at
Trotter's.'

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 109

c Why didn't you bring it up, you young muff ? '
inquired his lord.

' Because it's got to be signed for, and he wouldn't
let me do that for you.'

* Like your cheek to think of such a thing. What's
it like 1 '

( Oh, it's in a little box. I say, Newcome, shall we
go and get it ? '

' I can't go at present ; it'll wait, I suppose,' said
Charlie, with the air of a man who was daily in the
habit of receiving little boxes by the carrier.

But for all that he could not wholly conceal his
curiosity.

' What size box ? " he asked presently,
1 About the size of a good big pill-box.'
1 All that ? I dare say I can fetch that up by my-
self/ said Charlie.

Size of a large pill-box ! It could not be anything
so very important after all. So he turned again to hi3
Cicero, and sent the fag about his business.

Presently, however, that youth returned with a letter
for Charlie. It ran thus *

1 Dear Young Scamp, — People always say bachelor
uncles are fools, and I think they are right. I've sent
you a proof of my folly in a little box, which ought to
reach you about the same time as this letter. You've
done nothing to deserve a present from me, and a box
on the ears would be much better bestowed. Never
mind. Take care of this little gift for me, in memory
of the jolly Christmas you and I last spent together,
and when you are not kicking up a row with your

no THE ADVENTURES OF

cronies at Randlebury or have nothing better to do,
think of your affectionate

* Uncle Ralph.'

Much to the fagV astonishment, Charlie, having
perused this letter, slammed up Cicero, and seizing
the cap from off his (the fag's) head, as being most
ready to hand, dashed out of school in the direction of
the village.

' Trot ! ' he exclaimed, as he reached the establish-
ment of that familiar merchant, ' hand up that little
box, you old villain I Do you hear ? '

The long-suffering Trotter, to whom this address
was comparatively polite in its phraseology, was not
long in producing the parcel, in acknowledgment of
which Charlie gave his sign manual in lordly characters
upon the receipt ; and then, burning with impatience,
yet trying hard to appear unconcerned, walked swiftly
back to the school.

The fag was hanging about his study, scarcely less

curious than himself.

1 Hook it 1 ' cried his master, putting the parcel down
on the table and taking out his penknife to cut the

string.

Sill the inquisitive fag lingered. Whereupon Charlie,
taking him kindly yet firmly by the collar of his coat,
conveyed him to the open window, whence he gently
dropped him a distance of six feet to the earth.

Privacy being thus secured, he turned again to his
parcel and opened it. Imagine his delight and my
agony when there came to light a splendid gold watch
and chain 1 I turned faint with jealousy, and when a

A THREE GUINEA WATCH in

second glance showed ine that the interloper was no
other than the identical gold repeater whom I had
known and dreaded in my infancy, I was ready to
break my mainspring with vexation. To me the
surprise had brought nothing but foreboding and
despair, and already I felt myself discarded for my
rival ; but to Charlie it brought a rapture of delight
which expressed itself in a whoop which could be
heard half over the school.

4 What on earth's the row ? ' said a head looking in
at the door ; ' caught cold, or what ? '

' Come here, Jim, this moment ; look at this I '
And Jim came and looked, and as he looked his
eyes sparkled with admiration.

* My eye, Charlie, what a beauty ! ' said he, taking
up the treasure in his hand. His thumb happened to
touch the spring on the handle, and instantly there
came a low melodious note from inside the repeater
One, two, three, and then a double tinkle twice re-
peated.

* That's striking/ observed Jim, who was occasionally
guilty of a pun. ( Why, it's a repeater ! '

' So it is ! Did you ever know such a brick as that
uncle of mine ? '

* It's a pity your people can't think of anything else
but watches for presents. Why, what a donkey you
made of yourself about that silver turnip when you
first had it I Don't you remember ? What's to be-
come of it, by the by ? '

' How do I know ? I say, Jim, this one wasn't got
for nothing.' And then the boys together investigated
the wonders of the new watch,, peeping at its works

ii2 THE ADVENTURES OF

and making it strike, till I was quite sick of hearing it.
But then I was jealous. There was no more Cicero
for Charlie that day. He was almost as ridiculous,
though not so rough, with his new treasure as he had
been with me. He turned me out of my pocket to
make room for it ; and then half a dozen times a
minute pulled it out and gloated over it. At night he
put us both under his pillow, little dreaming of the
sorrow and disappointment that filled my breast.
Where were all the old days now ? Who would
admire or value me, a poor, commonplace silver
drudge, now that this grand, showy rival had come
and taken my place ? In my anger and excitement
my heart beat fast and loud, so loud that presently I
heard a voice beside me saying,

* Gently, there, if you please ; no one can hear
himself speak with that noise/

' I've more right to be here than you/ I growled.

' That is as our mutual master decides ; but surely

I have heard your voice before ! Let me look at

you/

And he edged himself up, so as to get a peep at my

shabbv face.

* To be sure — my young friend the three-guinea
silver watch ? How do you do, my little man ? '

This patronage was intolerable, and I had no words

to reply.

f Ah 1 you find it difficult to converse. You must
indeed be almost worn out after the work you have
had. I am indeed astonished to see you alive at all.
I am sure, in my master's name, I may be allowed to
thank you for your praiseworthy exertions in his

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 113

service. We are both much obliged to you, and hope
we shall show ourselves not unmindful of your '

( Brute I ' was all I could shriek, so mad was I.
Whether my rival would have pursued his discourse
I cannot say, but at that instant a hand came
fumbling under the pillow. It passed me by, and
sought the repeater, and next moment the tinkling
chimes sounded half-past eleven.

It was as much as I could endure to be thus slighted
and triumphed over.

* Contemptible creature I ' I exclaimed ; * you may
think you've a fine voice, but, like a simpering school-
girl, you can't sing till you're pressed I ' I had him
there, surely I

' Better that than having no voice at all, like some

people, or using it when no one wants to hear it, like

others.' I suppose he thought he had me there, the

puppy I

He went on chiming at intervals during the night,

and of course my master had very little rest in conse-
quence.

The next day Charlie and Jim had a solemn con-
fabulation as to the disposal of me.

' It's no use wasting it, you know/ said Jim. * Pity
you haven't got a young brother to pass it on
to.'

* Suppose you take it,' said the generous Charlie.
' No, old man, I don't want it. I'm not so mad

about tickers as you. But, I tell you what,
Charlie, you might like Tom to have it. He's leaving,
you know, and it would be a nice reminder of Randle-
bury.'

ii4 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Just what I thought directly the new one came,'
exclaimed Charlie, ' only then I remembered we had
a row about this very watch three years ago, and I'm
afraid he wouldn't like it.'

' Try. Old Tom would be quite set up with a watch.'

Charlie proceeded that same day in quest of Tom,
whom he found packing up his books and chemicals
in a large trunk.

To him mv master exhibited his new treasure,
greatly to Drift's delight.

' Why, Charlie/ he said, ' I don't know much about
watches, but I'm certain that's worth twenty pounds.'

' No 1 ' exclaimed Charlie ; ' you don't mean that.'

I Yes, I do ; but, for all that, I'll back your old
turnip to keep as good time as it.'

c It's always gone well, the old one. I'm glad you
like it, Tom.'

' I always liked it, you know/

' Why ? '

' Well, I've known it as long as I've known you,
and if it hadn't been for it things might have been
different.'

' Yes, 5 said Charlie, ' it was the cause of all the row

three years ago.'

' And if it hadn't been for that row I should have
gone to the bad long ago. That was a lucky row for
me, Charlie, thanks to you/

' Don't say that, old man, because it's a cram/

I I say, Tom,' added Charlie nervously, coming to

his point, ' will you do me a favour 1 '

' Anything in the world. What is it ? '

'Take my old watch. Tom. It's not worth much,

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 115

you know, but it may be useful, and it will help to
remind you of old days. Will you, Tom ? '

Tom's lips quivered as he took me from Charlie's

outstretched hand.

' Old boy,' said he, ' I'd sooner have this than any-
thing else in the world. Somehow I feel I can't go
wrong as long as I have it.'

Charlie was beyond measure delighted to find his
present accepted with so little difficulty.

' Oh, Tom/ he said, ' I am glad to think you'll have
it, and I know you'll think of me when you use it.'

1 Won't I ? ' said Tom. ' I say, Charlie, I wish you
were coming to London with me.'

4 So do I. Never mind, we'll often write, and you'll
promise to let me know how you are getting on, won't

you? '
* Yes.'

' And you'll call and see my father pretty often,
won't you ? '
' Yes.'
' And you'll keep yourself free for a week's jaunt at

Easter ? '

' Yes.'

They had" much more talk that evening, which
lasted till late. What they talked about it is not for
me to repeat, and if it were it would probably not
interest my reader. He would perhaps be disappointed
to find that a considerable part of it related to a new
suit of Tom's, just arrived from the tailor's, and that
another part had reference to Tom's intention to pre-
vail on his landlady in London to allow him to support
a bull-dog puppy on her premises. These subjects,

n6 THE ADVENTURES OF

deeply interesting to the two friends, would not im-
prove with repetition ; and neither would the rest
of their talk, which was chiefly a going over of old
times, and a laying of many a wondrous scheme for
the future. Suffice it to say, on this last evening the
two boys unbosomed themselves to one another, and
if Tom Drift went off to bed in a sober and serious
frame of mind, it was because he and Charlie both
had thought and felt a great deal more than they had
spoken during the interview. The packing went on
at the same time as the talk, and then the two friends
separated, only to meet once more on the morrow for
a hurried farewell.

' Let's have a last look at him/ said Charlie, as Tom
was getting into the cab to go.

Tom took me out and handed me to him. Long
and tenderly my dear young master looked at me,
then, patting me gently with his hand as if I were a
child, he said,

' Good-bye, and be good to Tom Drift ; do you

hear % '

If a tick could express anything, ray reply at that

moment must have satisfied him his parting wish

would not be forgotten. Then returning me to my

new master, he said,

' Good-bye, old boy ; joy go with you. We'll hear
of you at the head of your profession before Jim and
I have left school.'

' Not quite so soon,' replied Tom, laughing.

Then came a last good-bye, and the cab drove off.
As it turned the corner of the drive Tom leaned out
of the window and held me out in his hand.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 117

Long shall I remember that parting glimpse. He
was standing on the steps with Jim waving his hands.
The sun shone full on him, lighting up his bright face
and curly head. I thought as I looked, ' Where could
one find his equal ? '• — Sans peur et sans reproche —
* matchless for gentleness, honesty, and courage,' and
felt, as the vision faded from me, that I should never
see another like him. And I never did.

Little, however, did I dream in what strange way
I was next to meet Charlie Newcome.

n8 THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER XI

How Tom Drift made one start in London, and

prepared to make another.

THE two months that followed my departure
from Bandlebury were melancholy and tedious.

It was hard for me, after the boisterous surround-
ings of a public school, to settle down to the heavy
monotony of a dull lodging in a back street of Lon-
don ; and it was harder still, after being the pride
and favourite of a boy like Charlie Newcome, to find
myself the property of Tom Drift.

Not that Tom used me badly at first. He wound
me up regularly, and for the sake of his absent friend
honoured me with a considerable share of his affection.
Indeed, for the first week or so he was quite gushing,
scarcely letting me out of hi3 sight, and sometimes
even dropping a tear over me. And I, remembering
Charlie's last words, ' Be good to Tom Drift/ felt glad
to be able to remind my new master of old times, and
keep fresh the hopes and resolutions with which
Charlie had done so much to inspire him. But Tom
Drift, I could not help feeling, was not a safe man.
There was something lacking in him, and that some-

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 119

thing was ballast. No one, perhaps, ever had a greater
theoretical desire to be all that was right and good,
but that was not in itself enough.

In quiet, easy times, and with a guiding friend to
help him, Tom Drift did well enough ; but left to
himself amid currents and storms he could hardly
fail to come to grief, as we shall presently see.

For the first two months he stuck hard to his work
he was regular at lectures, and attentive when there ;
he spent his spare time well in study bearing upon
the profession for which he was preparing ; he wrote
and heard once a week from Charlie ; he kept clear
of the more rackety of his fellow-students ; he spent
his Sundays at Mr. Newcome's house, and he took
plenty of healthy exercise both for body and mind.

With many examples about him of industry and

success he determined to make the most of his time
as a student, and spoke of the life and sphere of a
country doctor, for which he was training, with the
enthusiasm of one whose heart is in his work.

1 The more I think of it/ he once wrote to his mother,
who was residing abroad for her health, ' the
more I take to it. A good doctor is the best-liked
man in his parish. Everybody comes to him in their
trouble. He gets into the best society, and yet makes
himself loved by the poorest. In four or five years at
least I ought to get through mj course here, and then
there is nothing to prevent my settling down at once.
By that time I hope you'll be well enough to come
and keep house for me, for all country doctors, you
know, are bachelors/ and so on.

All this was very well, and, as one of Tom's friends,

f2o THE ADVENTURES OF

I rejoiced to see him thus setting himself in earnest
to the duties of his calling. But I rejoiced with
trembling. Although he kept clear, for the most part,
of his fellow-students, choosing his friends charily and
shyly, I could yet see that he had no objection to
contemplate from a distance the humours and festivi-
ties of his more high-spirited companions. He was
not one of those impulsive fellows who shut their eyes
and take a header into the midst of a new good-
fellowship, only to discover too late their error, and
repent their rashness at leisure.

No, Tom had his eyes open. He saw the evil as
well as the good, and, alas for him, having seen it, he

locked still !

The students of St. Elizabeth's Hospital were not
on the whole a bad set. On Tom's arrival in London,
however, he had the firm impression in his mind that
all medical students were bad characters, and this
foolish notion did him much harm. If two or three
of them were to go oil for a spree, his imagination
would at once picture them in scenes and places such
as no respectable man would like to frequent, whereas,
if the truth were known, these misjudged young men
had committed no greater crime than that of taking
a boat up the river, or a drive in a dog-cart. If a
group of them should be seen by him laughing and
talking, he instinctively concluded their topic must be
ribaldry, whereas they would perhaps be only joking
at the expense of some eccentric professor, or else
charring one of their own number. And so it hap-
pened that Tom failed in time to distinguish between
the really bad and such as he only imagined to be

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 121

bad; and from his habit of looking on at them and
their doings from a studied distance, their presence
began gradually and insensibly to exercise a very
considerable influence over his mind.

* After all,' he would sometimes say to himself,
* these fellows get on. They pass their exams, they
pay their bills, they gain the confidence of their pro-
fessors, and at the same time they manage to enjoy
themselves. Perhaps I am a fool to take so much
pains about the first three of these things, and to
deny myself the fourth. Perhaps, after all, these
fellows are not so bad as I have fancied, or perhaps
I am prudish.'

And then the silly fellow, having once inclined to
admit there was something to be said for medical
students, and having before considered all bad alike,
became tolerant all round, more particularly of the
really bad set, who appeared to him to enjoy them-
selves the most.

As his companions became more attractive to him,
his work became less interesting.

' Why should I grind and plod here/ he said, ( while
every one else is enjoying himself ? If young Charlie
were here, I'm pretty sure he'd be in for some of their
sprees, and laugh at me for wearing my eyes out as
I'm doing/

And then he leaned back in Ins chair and took to
wondering what the six fellows who started that
afternoon for Richmond were doing. Smashing the
windows of the * Star and Garter,' perhaps, or fightin'

the bargees on the river, or capturing a four-in-hand
drag, or disporting themselves in some such genial

THE ADVENTURES OF

and truly English manner. And as Tom conjured up
the picture he half envied them their sport.

So he gradually became restless and discontented.
The days were weary and the evenings intolerably
dull. The visits to Mr. Newcome were of course
pleasant enough, but it was slow being cooped up
an entire Sunday with two old people. On the whole,
life in London was becoming stupid.

One of the first symptoms of his altered frame of
mind was the occasional neglect of his regular letter
to Charlie. That ever-faithful young man wrote as
punctually as clockwork. Every Thursday morning
a letter lay on Tom's plate at breakfast-time, addressed
in the well-known hand, and bearing the Randlebury
post-mark. And jolly lively letters they were.

I remembered one of them well. It came after two
weeks' omission on Tom's part, and ran thus :

1 Dear Tom, — A pretty fellow you are to corre-
spond with 1 Here am I, piping to you with all my
might, but I can't get you to dance. I know what
you'll tell me, you old humbug — " awfully hard grind "
* exam coming on " — " lectures day and night," and
rubbish like that. All very well, but look here, Thomas,
don't fancy that your diligence in cutting off legs and
arms can be an excuse for cutting yours truly in this
heartless manner. Not having a letter of yours to
answer, I don't know how I shall scrape up material
enough for a yarn. There was a big football-match
on Saturday, and Jim and I were in it. You should
have seen me turning somersaults, and butting my
head into the fellows' stomachs. Jim and I got

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 123

shoulder to shoulder once in the game. You know
old Howe ? Well, he was running with the ball to-
wards our goal, and Jim and I were in front of him.
I was nearest, and charged, and over I went like a
ninepin ; then Jim was on him, and over he went too.
However, I was up again in time to jump on Howe's
baok ; but he shook me off on to the ground on my
nose. Then Jim, having recovered, took his fling,
and a rare fling it was, for Howe dodged him just as
he was at the top of a kangaroo leap, and left him
looking very foolish in a sitting posture on the ground.
However, in dodging, Howe had allowed me time to
extricate my nose from the earth and make my third
attempt. This time was more successful, for I got
my hands round the ball ; but I shouldn't have kept
them there if Jim hadn't taken the opportunity of
executing another astounding buck-jump, which
landed him safe on his man's shoulders, where he
stuck like a scared cat on the back of a somnambu-
list. So between us we brought our quarry to earth
and gained no end of applause. Wasn't it prime ?
That's about all the news here, except that Wil-
loughby is going to Trinity at Midsummer, and that
Salter is laid up from tho effects of an explosion of
crackers in his trousers pockets.

' I've taken a turn at reading hard, which may
astonish you. The doctor told me, if I really thought
of some da} 7 arraying my manly form in a scarlet
jacket and wearing a sword, 1 ought to put it on
with my mathematics, which are not my forte, you
know. So now I'm drawing circles and triangles at
every available moment, and my logarithm tables arc

124 THE ADVENTURES OF

thumbed almost to death. Don't imagine you're the

only burner of midnight oil.

g I had a letter from home to-day. They were

saying they hadn't seen you lately. I hope you'll go

up when you can ; it would be a charity to the dear

old folk ; besides, they are very fond of you — queer

taste ! How's the ticker ? Give it a cuff from me

for not reminding you to write the last two weeks.

The repeater goes on all serene. It has already

gained some notoriety, as I was publicly requested,

before the whole Fifth, the other day, to abstain from

evoking its musical talents in the course of the Latin

prose lesson. Now I must shut up. Seriously, old

man, don't overwork yourself, and don't bother to

write unless you've time ; but you know how welcome

your letters are to

1 Your affectionate chum,

' C. N/

Of course Tom sat down and answered this letter
at once, much reproaching himself for his past neglect.
With the vision of Charlie before his eyes, and with
the sound of his voice again in his ears, all his old
resolutions and impulses returned that morning. He
worked hard, and flung the trashy novel, over which
he had been wasting his time the day before, into the
fixe ; he went off to lectures with something like his
old eagerness, and discharged his duties in the wards
with interest and thoroughness ; he refused to allow
his mind to be distracted by the proceedings of his
fellow-students, and he resolved to spend that very
evening at Mr. Newcome's.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 125

Tom Drift would probably have laughed at the
idea that this sudden change was due entirely to
Charlie's letter. To him it seemed like a spontaneous
reassertion of its natural self by his mind, and a
matter for such self-congratulation and satisfaction,
that it at once covered the multitude of past omissions.
Indeed, Tom felt very virtuous as he returned that
afternoon to his lodgings ; and so felt no need to look
away from self to Him who alone can keep us from
falling.

mi

the idea of Ma getting up mathematics in his spare

time.

1 He's not the sort of fellow to stick to work of that
sort,' said Tom to himself, secretly comparing his own
remarkable powers of application with those of his
Randlebury friend.

Then he sat down, and more than ever admiring
and wondering at his own greediness for hard work,
read till it was time to start for Mr. Newcome's.

It was a good long way, but being a fine evening,
Tom determined to walk. He felt that after his work
the fresh air would do him good, and besides, as he
was in plenty of time, he could indulge himself in
that very cheap and harmless luxury, an inspection of
the shop windows as he went along. He therefore
selected a longer and more crowded route than per-
haps he need have done, and certainly, as far as
the shops went, was rewarded for his pains.

However, Tom seemed to me to have as much
interest in watching the people who passed to and
fro as in the shops. He amused himself by wonder-

TT

126 THE ADVENTURES OF

ing where this one was going and what that one was
doing. With his usual tendency, he chose to imagine
they were all bent on mischief or folly, and because
they happened to be in a certain street, and because
in that street he had frequently heard some of his
fellow-students speak of a low theatre, he jumped to
the conclusion that every one ho saw was bound for
this place. Something impelled him to go himself
and take an exterior survey of this mysterious and
rnuch-spokcn-of building. He found it ; and, as he
expected, he found people thronging in, though not
in the numbers he had anticipated. He stood and
watched them for some time, and wondered what
they were going to see.

He went up and read the playbill. He read the
name of the play, the titles of its acts, and the names

of its actors. He wondered if the man who just then
drove up in a hansom was one of the heroes of the
piece, or whether he was one of the performers in
the farce announced to follow the play. Still the
people streamed in. There was no one he knew,
and no one knew him.

' Strange/ thought he, * there are so many places in
London where one could go and no one ever know it. 1

He wished he could see what the place was like
inside ; it must surely be crowded by this time.

Thus he dawdled for some time ; then with a sigh
and an effort he tore himself away and walked quickly
on to the Newcomes' house. Their welcome was most
cordial.

* We were afraid/ said Mr. Newcome, c you had
quite deserted us. Come in, it is pleasant to see you,

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 127

We had a letter from Charlie only to-day, telling us

to see you did not overwork yourself, and to make

you come up here whether you would or not. Of

course we could hardly follow such instructions
literally.'

Tom spent a pleasant evening with the two good
people.

He always had found Mr. Newcome a clever and
very entertaining man — a man whom one feels all the
better for talking to, and who naturally sets every
guest in his house at ease. They talked much about
Charlie and his prospects. They even consulted Tom
as to the wisdom of yielding to the boy's desire for a
military career, and Tom strongly supported the idea.

Then Tom's own prospects were canvassed and
highly approved of by both Mr, and Mrs. Newcome.
Tom already pictured himself settled down in his
country practice, enjoying himself, doing good to
others, and laying by a comfortable competency for
future years. On the whole, he felt, as he quitted the
hospitable roof of his genial friends, that he had
rarely spent a more pleasant or profitable evening.

People were thronging out of the theatre as he
returned, and he could not resist the desire to stand
and watch them for a little. Ho wondered what they
had seen, and whether those he saw had waited for
the ' farce,' or was that still going on 1 — and he won-
dered if any people ever went into a theatre at so late
an hour as eleven.

Ah, Tom ! he did not go in that night, or the next,
but he was getting himself ready for the first step.

Reader, do not mistake Tom's weakness and folly.

128 THE ADVENTURES OF

He was not trying to persuade himself this place was
a good one for him to enter ; he was not thought-
lessly going in to discover too late that he had better
have stayed out. No, Tom — rightly or wrongly — had
made up his own mind that this theatre was a bad
place, and yet he had a desire to enter in 1

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 129

CHAPTER XII

T

How Tom Drift begins to go downhill,

IME went on. and Tom Drift advanced inch by
inch nearer the brink. He slipped, not with-
out many an effort to recover himself, many a pang of
self-reproach, many a vague hope of deliverance.

' Be good to Tom Drift ! ' wag ever ringing in my

ears. But what could I do ? He often neglected me
for days. All I could do was to watch and tremble
for what was coming.

You who are so ready to call Tom & fool, and hug
yourselves that you have more strength of character
and resolution than he had, try to realize what were
his perils and what were his temptations at that time,
before you pass judgment.

The dulness of those lodgings in Grime Street was
often almost unbearable. When his work was done,
and Tom looked out of the window and saw nothing
but carts and cabs and tradesmen, and the dismal
houses opposite, what wonder if ho sometimes felt
miserable ? When < he heard nothing but pattering
footsteps down the pavement, the rumble of wheels
and the street cries under his window, what wonder if

i 3 o THE ADVENTURES OF

he felt lonely and friendless ? No footsteps stopped
at his door, no friendly face lightened his dull study,
no cheery laughter brought music to his life. What
wonder, I say, if he moped and felt discontented ?
What wonder if his thoughts wandered to scenes and
places that contrasted forcibly with his dead-alive
occupation ? What wonder if he hankered after a
' little excitement/ to break the monotony of lectures,
hard reading, and stupid evenings ?

' Ah/ I hear you say, ' there are plenty of things
he might have done. It was his own fault if he was
dull in London. I would have gone to the museums,
the libraries, the concerts, the parks, the river, the
picture galleries,, and other harmless and delightful
places of amusement. Why, I could not be dull in
London if I tried. Tom Drift was an idiot/

My dear friend, what a pity Tom Drift had not the
advantage of your acquaintance when he was in
London 1 But he had not. He had no friends, as I
have said, except the Newcomes, whom he only
visited occasionally, and as a matter chiefly of duty,
and his anxiety to keep right at first had led him to
reject and fight shy of friendships with his fellow-
Btudents. Doubtless it was his own fault to a large
extent that he allowed himself to get into this dull,
dissatisfied condition. If he had had a healthy mind
like you, friend, it would not have happened. But
instead of utterly scouting him as an idiot, rather
thank God you have been spared all his weaknesses and
all his temptations.

Was Tom never to learn that there was a way
' The Way, the Truth, and the Life ' — better than any

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 131

he had yet tried, which would lead him straight
through the tangled mazes of his London life ? Was
he never to discover that Friend, truer than all earthly
friends, at Whose side he might brave each trial and
overcome each temptation ?

Poor Tom ! he walked in a way of his own, and
trusted in no one better than himself ; and that was
why he fell-
As I have said, he did not fall without an effort. I
have known him one day buy a bad, trashy book, and
the same evening, in a fit of repentance — for God's
Spirit wonderfully strives with men— take and burn
it to ashes in his grate. But I have also known him
to buy the same book again the next day. I have
known him to walk a mile out of his way to avoid a
place of temptation ; and yet, before his walk was
done, find himself, after all, under the glare of its
lamps. The moth hovers in wide circles round the
candle before it ventures its wings in the flame. And
so it was with Tom ; but the catastrophe came at lasti

One evening about three weeks before the time
fixed for the Easter trip with Charlie, Tom felt in-
tolerably dull. He had been neglecting his work
during several days for novels of the lowest and most
sensational type. Over these he had dawdled till his
brain had become muddled with their unreal incidents
and impure suggestions, and now that they were done
he felt fit for nothing. He could not settle down to
work, he had no friends to turn to, and so he put his
hat on his head and sallied out into the streets to
seek there the variety he could not find indoors.
As usual, his steps led him to the low theatre about

132 THE ADVENTURES OF

which he was so curious, and of which he heard so
much from his fellow-students. It was half-past
seven, and people were beginning to crowd round the
door, waiting for it to open. Tom, standing on the
other side of the pavement, watched them with a
painful fascination.

' Shall I go for once ? ' he asked himself. Then he
strolled up to the playbill and read it.

As he was doing so some one slapped him on the
shoulder, and, turning quickly round, he found himself
face to face with his old acquaintance Gus Burke and
another youth.

Gus, who was still small of stature, though fully
nineteen years of age, was arrayed in the height of the
fashion. As Tom regarded him he felt his own coat
become more shabby and his hat older, and he wished
he had brought his dogskin gloves and cane. Gus
was smoking, too, a cigarette, and very distinguished
and gentlemanly Tom thought it looked. He felt, as
he regarded his brilliant and unexpected acquaintance,
that he was rather glad those people who were standing
at the theatre door should see him accosted in so
familiar a way by such a hero. And Gus's friend was
no less imposing — more so, indeed, for he wore an
eyeglass.

Tom was so astonished at this unexpected meetin.
that he had noticed all this long before he found words
to return his old schoolfellow's salutation.

Gus, however, relieved him of his embarrassment.

' Tom Drift, upon my honour ! How are you, old
horse, and how's your mother ? Who'd have thought
of running up against you like this ? '

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 133

Tom tried to look as much at his ease as he could
as he replied,

' Why, Gus, old man, where did you spring from ?
I didn't know'you were in London.'

' Ain't I, though I ' replied Gus, tapping the end of
his cigarette on his cane. ' But what are you up to,
Tom ? — you're not going in here, are you ? ' pointing
over his shoulder to the theatre.

' Well, no,' said Tom ; ' that is,' added he, with as
much of a swagger as he could assume on the spur of
the moment, ' I had been half thinking of just seeing
what it was like. Some of our fellows, you know,
fancy the place.'

How suddenly and easily he was, under the eyes of
these two ' swells,' casting off the few slender cords
that still held him moored to the shore.

' Oh, don't go in there,' said Gus, with a look of
disgust ; * it's the slowest place in London — nothing on
but that old fool Shakespeare's plays, or somebody's
equally stupid. You come along with us, Tom, we'll
take you to a place where you'll get your money's
worth and no mistake. Won't we, Jack ? '

The youth appealed to as Jack answered with a
most affected drawl, and with an effort which appeared
to cause him no little fatigue, ' Wathah.'

1 Come along,' said Gus, lighting a fresh cigarette.

Tom was uncomfortable. He would not for worlds
seem unwilling to go, and yet he wished he could get
out of it somehow.

' Very kind of you,' he said, ' I'd like it awfully ;
but I must get back to do some work, you know, I've
an exam coming on. It's an awful nuisance ! '

134 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Why, I thought you were going in here, in any
case ! ' said Gus.

' Ah — well — yes, so I was, just for a little, to see
what sort of affair it was ; but I meant to be home by
nine . '

' Well, just have a squint in at our place ; and if
you must go, you must. Come along, old man ; cut
work for one evening, can't you ? You've become an
awfully reformed character all of a sudden ; you
usen't to be so hot on your books.'

Tom had no ambition before these two to figure in
the light of a reformed character, and he therefore
abandoned further protest, and proceeded to accom-
pany Gus and his friend down the street.

8 Have a weed ? ' asked Gus.

1 Thanks, I hardly ever smoke,' said Tom.

'They're very mild/ said Gus, with a sneer.

Tom took the proffered cigar without another word,
and did his best first to light and then to smoke it as
if he were an experienced smoker.

1 Who's your fwend ? ' inquired Gus's languid

acquaintance.

* By the way,' said that young man, f I've never

introduced you two. Mortimer, allow me to introduce
you to my friend Tom Drift.'

Mr. Mortimer gave a nod which Tom felt he
would like greatly to have at his command, there
was something so very knowing and familiar about

it.

( It was Tom got up that little race party I was
telling you of, Jack, you know. He's a regular
eporting card. By the way, what's become of that

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 135

little mooney-face prig we took with us that day ; eh,
Tom ? '

Tom was out in midstream now, floating fast out
to sea.

' Who — oh, young Newcome ? ' said he ; ' he's still
at Randlebury.'

' Young puppy I You never knew such a spree as
that was, Jack/ said Gus ; and then he launched
forth into a highly-spiced account of the eventful
expedition to Gurley races, contriving to represent
Tom as the hero of the day, greatly to that youth's
discomfort and confusion, and no less to the amuse-
ment of Mr. Mortimer.

' Here we are at last,' said Gus, as the trio arrived
at a gorgeously illuminated and decorated restaurant.

Tom's heart sunk within him. More than ever did
he wish himself back in his dull lodgings, never again
to set foot abroad, if only he could have got out of
this fix. But there was no drawing back.

' Shall we go in yet, or knock the balls about for a
bit ? ' said Gus. * This fellow Tom's a regular swell
at billiards. Do you remember thrashing me last
time we met, Tom — the summer after I'd left Randle-
bury ? '

Tom could not deny he had beaten Gus on the
occasion referred to, and felt it was useless for him to
protest — what was the case — that he was only a very
indifferent player. He agreed to the idea of a game,
however, as he hoped he might at its close be able to
make his escape without accompanying his two com-
panions to the music-hall attached to the restaurant,
and which he already knew by reputation as one of

136 THE ADVENTURES OF

the lowest entertainments in London. ' You two
play/ said Gus, ' and I'll mark. You'll have to give
Jaok points, Tom, you know, you're such a dab.'

It was vain for Tom to disclaim the distinction,
and the game began.

" Hold hard ! ' said Gus, after the first stroke ; * what
are you playing for ? '

' Weally, I don't know ; thillingth, I thuppothe,'
lisped Mr. Mortimer.

' All serene I Go on.'

And they went on, and Mr. Mortimer made no end
of misses, so that, in spite of the points he had re-
ceived, Tom beat him easily. In the two games
which followed the same success attended him, and
he won all the stakes.

' Didn't I tell you he was a swell ? ' said Gus. ' Upon
my word, Tom, I don't know how you do it I '

' It's just the sort of table I like to play on,' said
Tom, elated with his success, and unwilling to own
that half his lucky shots had been ' flukes.'

' I tell you what, 1 said Gus ; ' you owe me my
revenge, you know, from last time. I'll play you to-
morrow for half-crowns, if you'll give me the same
points as you did to Jack.'

Tom was fast nearing the breakers now. He had
nothing for it but to accept the challenge, and the
table was consequently engaged for the nest evening.

' I must be oil now, you fellows I ' he said.

' Nonsense i Why, you haven't yet seen the fun
below. You must stay for that.'

' I wish I could,' faltered Tom ; ' but I really must
do some reading to-night.'

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 137

* So you can ; the thing only lasts an hour, and
you're not obliged to go to bed at eleven, are you ? '

Still Tom hesitated.

' You don't mean to say you are squeamish about
it 1 ' said Gus, in astonishment. ' I could fancy that
young friend of your mother's turning up his eyes at
it, but a fellow like you wouldn't be so particular, I
reckon ; eh, Jack ? '

And Mr. John Mortimer, thus appealed to, la
an amused laugh at the bare notion.

That laugh and the term, ' a fellow like you,'
destroyed the last of Tom's wavering objections, and
he yielded.

o

138 THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER XIII

How Tom Drift, still going downhill, met my

old master.

w

him.

HEN Tom reached his lodgings that night he
found a jubilant letter from Charlie awaiting

* Jusb fancy/ he said, 'it's only three weeks more,
old man, and then to Jericho with books, and test-
tubes, and anatomy ! I'll drag you out of your study
by the scruff of your neck, see if I don't ; I'll clap a
knapsack on your back, and haul you by sheer force
down into Kent. There you shall snuff the ozone,
and hold your hat on your head with both hands on
the cliff top. I'll hound you through old castles, and
worry you up hills. If I catch so much as a leaflet
on chemistry in your hands, I'll tear it up and send
it flying after the sea-gulls. In short, I shouldn't liks
to say what I won't do, I'm so wild at the prospect of
a week with you. Of course, the dear old people
growl at me for leaving them in the lurch ; but they
are glad for us to get the blow ; indeed, my pater
insists on paying the piper, which is handsome of
him. I expect I shall get a day in London on my

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 139

way, either going or returning ; and if you' can put
me up at your diggings for the night, we'll have a
jolly evening, and you can show me all your haunts.'

Tom gasped as he got so far ; and well he might.

1 I'll tell you all the news when I come. I suppose,
by your not writing, you are saving yours up for me.
Ta, ta, old hoy, and au revoir in twenty-one days !
Hurrah ! Yours ever, — C.N.'

Tom, in his misery, crushed the letter up in his
ringers and flung it from him. If a passing pang shot
through his breast, it was followed almost instantly by
other feelings of vexation and shame. One moment
he was ready to sink to the floor in a passion of peni-
tence and remorse — the next, he was ready to resent

Charlie's influence over him even at a distance, and
to sneer, as Gus and his friend had done, at the boy's
expense. His brain was too muddled with the ex-
citement and the strange emotions of that evening to
reason with himself ; his head ached, and his mind
was poisoned.

* What right has the fellow always to be following
me up in this way ? ' he asked. ' I'm a fool to stand
it. Why can't I do as I choose without his pulling a
long face ? '

Thus Tom questioned, and thus he proved that it
w y as Charlie's influence more than his letter that
worried him ; for w r hat had the latter said, either in
the way of exhortation or reproof 1

Then he threw himself on the bed, and lay with
the wild memory of the evening crowding on his

140 THE ADVENTURES OF

feverish mind. He rose, and, lighting a candle,
endeavoured to read ; but even his novel was flat and
stupid, and in the midst of it he fell asleep, to dream
of Gus and his friend all night long. Long ere he
awoke my senses had left me, for he had neglected to
wind me up. Next morning he went to lectures as
usual. To his fellow-students he appeared the same
shy, quiet youth he had always seemed ; to Mr.
Newcome, whom he met in the street, he appeared
still as Charlie's chosen and dear friend, ready for
his holiday and rejoicing in the prospect of the
coming meeting; to his professors he appeared still
the same steady, hard-working student, bent on
making his way in his profession. But to himself,
alas ! how altered, how degraded he appeared I

In the midst of his duties his thoughts ran con-
tinually — now back to the strange experience of last
evening, now forward to the doubtful events of this.
The recollection of the past had lost a good deal of
its repulsiveness after twelve hours' interval, and
although he still felt it to be low and harmful, he yet
secretly encouraged his curiosity to revisit the place
of his temptation.

' After all, it did me no harm,' said he to himself ;
* it's not interfered with my work, or made me feel
worse than before. What harm in going again to-
night ? When Charlie comes, and we get away from
town, I shall easily be able to break it off ; and
besides, Charlie's sure to help to put me square ; he
always does. Yes ; I think 111 just go and see what's
on there to-night ; it can't be worse than it was.
Besides,' thought he, glad to seize on any straw of

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 141

excuse, ' I'm bound in honour to play Gus a return
match ; it would be ungentlemanly to back out of
that.'

But why sicken you, dear reader, and myself, with
recapitulating the sad workings of this poor fellow's
mind ? The more he tried to convince himself he
was doing only a slight wrong, the more his conscience
cried out he was running to his ruin. But he stopped
his ears and shut his eyes, and blindly dared his fate.

He went that evening to the music-hall. He met
Gus and Mortimer, and two other friends. He had
taken care to get himself up in a nearer approach to
his companions' style. He bought some cigars of his
own on the way, and offered them with a less awkward
swagger than he had been able to assume the night
before. He found himself able to nod familiarly to

the barmaid, and fancied that even Mortimer must
have approved of the way in which he ordered about
the billiard-marker.

In the match rith Gus for half-crowns he lost,
though only narrowly — so narrowly that he was not
content, without a further trial of skill, to own himself
beaten, and therefore challenged his adversary to a
second meeting the next evening. Then he watched
the others play, and betted with Mortimer on the
result — and alas 1 for him, he won.

It was Tom himself who said, at nine o'clock, —

' And now, suppose we see what's going on below.'

It was the same stupid, disgusting spectacle, but to

Tom it seemed less repulsive than he had found it the

night before. True, he at times felt a return of the

old feeling of shame ; the blush would occasionally

142 THE ADVENTURES OF

suffuse his face ; but 6uch fits were rare, and he was
able to carry them oil more easily with joke and
laughter.

' Jack/ Baid Gus in a whisper to Mortimer, as Tom,
after accepting a very broad hint to treat the party to
spirits, was turning to go, ' that fellow will be a credit
to you and me. Did you see how he smacked his

lips over the play, and yet all the while wanted to
make us think he saw that sort of thing every day of

his life, eh ? He's a promising chap, eh, Jack ? '

' Wathah/ replied Jack, laughin

Meanwhile Tom, glad enough to get out into the
pure air, though in not so desperate a case as the
night before, shouldered his way among the loitering
ompany towards the door. He was just emerging
into the street, when the sound of voices arrested

him.

'That's one of our men, isn't it?' said one.

' Why, so it is ; I fancied he was anything but a
festive blade. Yes ; and upon my word he's half
seas over ! '

Tom had no difficulty in discovering that these
hurried words had reference to him, and turning in-
stinctively towards the voices, he found himself face
to face with two, reputedly, of the wildest of his
fellow-students.

Gladly would he have avoided them ; gladly would
he have shrunk back and lost himself in the crowd,
but it was too late now ; he stood discovered.

' How are you ? ' cried one of the two, as he passed ;
' isn't your name Drift ? '

Tom stared as if he would have denied his name ;

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 143

but the next moment he put on his lately acquired
swagger, and said, ' Yes.'

* Ah I I thought so ; one of the St. Elizabeth men.
Hullo 1 he's in a hurry, though/ added he, as Tom
made a dive forward and strode rapidly down the
street.

It was but a step deeper. Well he knew that by
to-morrow every one of his fellow-students would
know of him as a frequenter of that wretched place.
Well he knew that, as far as they were concerned,
the mask of shyness and reticence under which he
had sheltered in their midst was for ever pulled away.
* One of us/ indeed I So truly the very worst of them
might now speak and think of him. Oh, if he had
but considered in time ; if he had but stemmed this
flood at its source ! But it was too late now.

And he strode home reckless and hardened.

The next day, as he expected, every one seemed to
know of his visits to the music-hall. The two who
had seen him accosted him with every show of friend-
ship and intelligence. He was appealed to in the
presence of nearly a dozen of his fellow-students as
to the name of one of the low songs there given ; ho
was asked if he was going to be there to-night, and
he was invited to join this party and that in similar
expeditions to similar places. And to all these
questions and greetings he was constrained to reply
in keeping with his assumed character of a gay spark.
How sick, how vile he felt ; yet in that one day how
hardened and desperate he became !

It was not in Tom Drift to cry ' I have sinned !
I will return ! ' No, once loose from his moorings,

144 THE ADVENTURES OF

he let himself float down the stream, watching the
receding banks in mute despair, raising no shout for
succour, venturing no plunge for safety.

You, who by this time have given him up, disgusted
at his weakness, his vanity, his low instincts, his
cowardliness — who say let him wallow in the mire he
has prepared for himself, who know so glibly what
you would have done, what you would have said,
what you would have felt, remember once more that
Tom Drift was not such as you ; and unfortunately
did not know you. He was not gifted with your
heroic resolution or your all-penetrating wisdom. He
was an ordinary sinful being of flesh and blood, rely-
ing only on his own poor strength ; and therefore,
reader, try to realize all he went through before you
fling your stone.

The toils were closing round him fast. His will
had been the first to suffer, his conscience next. Then
with a rush had gone honour, temperance, and purity ;
and now finally the flimsy rag, his good name, had
been torn from him, and he stood revealed a prodigal
and a hypocrite.

Even yet, however, help might have been forth-
coming.

' I say, you fellow/ said one of his fellow-students
this same day, ' I've never spoken to you before, and
perhaps shall never do so again ; but don't be a

fool ! '

1 What do you mean ? ' said Tom sharply.

' Only this, and I can't help it if you are angry,
keep clear of these new friends of yours, and still
more, keep clear of the places they visit. If you've

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 145

been led in once, rather cut off your right hand thai
be led in again, that's all I '

What spirit of infatuation possessed Tom Drift,
that he did not spring for very life at the proffered
help, that he did not besiege this friend, however blunt
and outspoken, and compel his timely aid ? Alas, for
his blindness and folly I

Scowling round at the speaker, he muttered an oath,
and said, ' What on earth concern is it of yours who my
friends are and where I go ? Mind your own business/

And so, thrusting rudely away the hand that might,
by God's grace, have saved him, he swept farther and
farther out towards the dark waters.

One final and great hope was still reserved for him,
and that was Charlie's visit. But to Tom that prospect
was becoming day by day mere distasteful. As the
days wore on, and Tom sunk deeper and deeper into
the snare prepared for him, the thought of a week in
the society of one so upright and pure as Charlie
became positively odious. The eifort to conceal his
new condition would bo almost impossible, and yet to
admit it to him would be, he felt, to shatter for ever
the only friendship he really prized. He racked his
brain for expedients and excuses to avert the visit,
but without avail. If he pleaded illness Charlie would
be the first to rush to his bedside ; if he pleaded hard
work Charlie would insist on sharing it, or improvin
its few intervals of rest ; if he pleaded disinclination
Charlie would devise a hundred other plans to please
him. In short, Charlie's visit was inevitable, and as
he looked forward to it he writhed in misgiving and
anxiety

O

146 THE ADVENTURES OF

His visits to the music-hall were meanwhile con-
tinuing, and his circle of acquaintance at that evil
haunt enlarging. He was duly installed as one of
the ' fast set ' at St. Elizabeth's, and under its auspices
had already made his debut at other scenes and places
than that of his first transgression. He was known
by sight to a score of billiard-markers, potmen, black-
legs, and lower diameters still, and was on nodding
terms with fully half of them. He had lost consider-
ably more than he had gained at billiards, and was
still further emptying his purse at cards. Quick work
for a few w r eeks I So quickly and fatally, alas 1 "Will
the infection, once admitted, spread, especially in a
patient whose moral constitution has undergone so
long a course of slow preparation as Tom's had.

The day came at last. Tom had carefully hidden

•>vay his worst books and his spirits ; he had bathed
his face half a dozen times, to remove the traces of last
night's intemperance • he had gathered together from
the corners where they had for so long lain neglected
the books and relics of his Randlebury days, and
restored them to their old places ; ho had brightened
me up, and he had taken pains to purify his room
from the smell of rank tobacco ; and then lie sauntered
down to the station.

How my heart beat as the train came into the
platform ! His head was out of the window, and his
hand was waving to us a hundred yards off ; and the
next minute he had burst from the carriage, and
seized Tom by the hands.

' How are you, old Tom ? I thought we'd never
get here ; how glad I am to set eyes on you ! Isn't

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 147

this a spree ? ' And not waiting for Tom's answer he
hauled his traps out of the carriage in a transport of
delight.

Still the same jovial, honest, fine-hearted boy.

1 Hi ! here 1 some of you/ he shouted to a porter,
1 look after these things, will you, and get us a cab. I
tell you what, Tom, you've got to come up home with me
first, and we can have dinner there ; then I'll come on
to your den, and we can pack our knapsacks and sleep,
and then start by the five train to-morrow morning.'

Thus he bustled, and thus he brought back the old
times on poor Tom Drift. Without the heart to speak,
he helped his friend to collect Ms luggage, and when
they were fairly started in the cab he even smiled
feebly in reply to the boy's sallies.

' Tom, you rascal, didn't I tell you you weren't to

knock yourself up, eh ? Why can't you do what
you're told ? Why, I declare you're as thin as a
hurdle, and as black under the eyes as if you had
been fighting with a collier. You ought to be ashamed
of yourself ! Look at me ; do all I can I can't get up
an interesting pallor like you, and I've fretted enough
over those conic sections {comic. sections Jim always
calls them). Never mind 1 Wait till I get you down
to the sea.'

And so he rattled on, while Tom leaned back in
his seat and winced at every word.

When they reached Mr. Newcome's of course there
was a scene of eager welcome on one side and boisterous
glee on the other. Tom, as he looked on, sighed,
as well he might, and wished he could have been
spared the torture of this day.

i 4 8 THE ADVENTURES OF

Charlie tore himself away from his mother, to drag
his friend into the house.

" Look at this object I ' he cried ; * did you ever see
such a caution to students ? If we do nothing else in
Kent we shall scare the crows, eh, Tom ? '

* Charlie I ' exclaimed his mother ; ' you have come
home quite rude I I hope you'll excuse him, Mr.
Drift.'

Mr. Drift said nothing, and looked and felt extremely
miserable.

' He looks really ill, poor fellow 1 ' said Mrs. Newcome
to her husband. ' I wonder they allow the students
to overwork themselves in that way.'

And then they sat down to dinner — a meal as dis-
tasteful to Tom as it was joyful to Charlie and his
parents.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 149

CHAPTER XIV
How Tom Drift parted with his best friend.

CHARLIE could not fail to discover before long
that there was something wrong with my master.
Never before had he known him so silent, so spiritless,
so mysterious. No effort could rouse him into cheer-
fulness or conversation, and for the first time for
three years Charlie felt that Tom was sorry to see
him. Naturally, he put it all down to the results
of overwork. Tom in his letters had always repre-
sented himself as engrossed in study. Even the
few hurried scrawls of the past few weeks he had

excused on the same ground. It never once occurred
to the simple-minded schoolboy that a chum of his
could possibly be struggling in the agonies of shame
and temptation and he know nothing of it ; he who
knew so little of evil himself, was not the one to think
or imagine evil where any other explanation was
possible.

And yet Tom's manner was so strange and altered,
that he determined, as soon as they should find them-
selves alone, to make an effort to ascertain its cause.

The opportunity came when the two youths, having

150 THE ADVENTURES OF

bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Newcome, found them-
selves at last in Tom's lodgings in Grime Street.

* Well,' said Charlie, with all theshowof cheerfulness
be could muster, for his spirits had been strangely
damped by the irresponsive gloom of his old school-
fellow — * well 1 here's the den at last. Upon my
word, old man, I've seen livelier holes ! Why don't
you explore and find some place a trifle less dead-
alive ? But I dare say it's convenient to be near the
Hospital, and when a fellow's working, it doesn't
much matter what sort of a place he's in, as long as
there's not a row going on under his window — and
I don't suppose there's much chance of that here/
said Charlie, looking out into the black street with
a kind of shudder.

Tom said nothing ; he wished his friend would not

everlastingly be talking of hard work and study in
the wav he did. However Charlie intended it, it
was neither more nor less than a talking at him, and
that he could not stand.

Charlie took no notice of his silence, but continued
his inspection of the dismal apartment, lighting up
with pleasure at the sight of the old Randlebury

relics.

' My old rod I ' exclaimed he, taking down the very
rod with the lancewood top which had figured so con-
spicuously in a certain adventure three years ago ;
' how jolly to see it again ! I'm afraid you don't get
much use for it here. And our fencing-sticks, too ;
see, Tom, here's the very place where you got under
my guard and snipped a bit out of the basket. Ha,
ha 1 what a crack that was I And here's the picture

A THREE GUINEA WATCK 151

of old Randlebury, with you at your window, and me
lying on the grass (and looking uncommonly like a
recently felled tree). Look here, Tom, this window
here is where Jim and I hang out now. It used to be
Callaghan's. By the way, do you ever see Call 1 He's
in London, articled to a solicitor. A pretty lawyer
he'll make I Have you seen him yet, Tom ? '

Tom, during this rattle, had been looking listlessly
out of the window. He now turned round with a
start and said —

' Eh ? what did you say ? '

The look which accompanied the words was so
haggard and miserable, that Charlie's*pity was instantly
touched. He stepped across the room and put his
arm in Tom's as he stood, and said,

1 Tom, old boy, what's wrong ? '

Tom said nothing, but walked away and leaned
against the mantelpiece.

* What is it, Tom ? Are you ill, or in trouble ?
You'll tell me, won't you "? '

Tom still remained silent, but his flushing face and
restless lips showed that the appeal had at least been
heard.

* Old boy/ continued Charlie, venturing again nearer,
1 we never used to have secrets. I'm sure something's
the matter. Mayn't I know what it is ? Very likely
I can't help you ; but I could try.'

Tom's lips quivered. The old influence was fast
coming back. Already in his mind he was picturing
himself telling Charlie all and with his help extricat-
ing himself from the slough into which he had sunk.
How could he stand unmoved with that voice, familiar

152 THE ADVENTURES OF

by many a memory of simple courageous goodness,
again falling on his ear ; and that appealing face, onco
so loved and delighted in, again turned to his ?

1 I'm afraid it's something more than ill health, old
boy. You've something on your mind. Oh 1 why
won't you at least tell me what it is ? '

Tom could stand it no longer. He must speak,
Whatever the confession cost him, whatever its effect
would be on his old schoolfellow's friendship, Charlie
must know all. To him at least he could not play
the hypocrite or the deceiver. He had turned from
the mantelpiece, his hand was held out to take that
of his friend's, he was just about to speak, when the
door of hia room opened, and there entered Gus,
Mortimer, and two companions.

' Here he is ! * cried Gus, not noticing that Tom
had company. ' Tommy, old man, you're in luck.
Old Owl has got a supper on to-night, no end of
punch, my boy, and he's expecting you ; and after-
wards we're going for a regular night of it to the
Hullo I who's your friend ? '

He caught sight of Charlie at this moment, and for
an instant failed to recognize in Tom's companion the
boy whom he had treated so shamefully at Gurley
races. But he remembered him in a moment.

" What, surely — yet upon my honour so it is, our
young sporting friend. How are you, Charlie, my
boy ? Here's a game 1 You'll come too, of course ?
Mortimer, this fellow is Drift's special — up to all the
wrinkles, no end of a knowing blade.'

During this brief and rapid salutation Tom and
Charlie, I need hardly say, were speechless. One

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 153

in utter despair, the other in utter rage and astonish-
ment. In both the revulsion of feeling caused by the
interruption was almost stupefying, and they stood
for a moment staring at the intruders in simple
bewilderment.

Tom was the first to find words. His checks were
white, and his voice almost choked as he said to Gus,

' I wish you'd go. I'm engaged.'

' So you are,' said Gus, with a sneer ; ' but I say
Tom, old man, I wish you'd come. It's too good c.
thing to miss.'

( Go away I ' almost gasped Tom.

1 Oh, of course an Englishman's house ia his castle, 1
said Gus, offended at this unusual rebuff ; ' you're a
fool, though, that's all. We were going to have a
spree to-night that would make all sprees of the pasi
month look foolish. Come along, don't be an ass;
and bring young mooney-face ; I dare say by thi*
time he knows what's what as w T ell as you or me,
Tom ; eh, Jack 1 '

( Lookth tho, replied the amused Jack.

By this time Charlie had found words. The truth
of course had all flashed in upon him ; he knew the
secret now of Tom's strange manner, of the neglected
letters, of the haggard looks, of the reluctant welcome.
And he knew, too, that but for this untimely incursion
he would have' heard it all from Tom himself , penitent
and humble, instead of, as now, hardened and desperate.
And ho recognized in the miserable little swaggering
dandy before him the author and the promoter of
his friend's ruin ; on him therefore his sudden rage
expended itself.

154 THE ADVENTURES OF

* You little cowardly wretch ! ' he exclaimed, address-
ing Gus, ' haven't you done mischief enough to Tom
already ? Go out of his room ! '

Poor Charlie ! Nothing could have been more
fatal to his hopes than this rash outbreak. The
words had scarcely escaped his lips before he saw the
mischief he had done.

Tom's manner suddenly altered. All signs of shame
and penitence disappeared as he stepped with a swagger
up to Charlie and exclaimed,

' What business have you to attack my friends ?
Get out yourself ! '

' Bravo, Tom, old man/ cried the delighted Gus.
Do you hear, young prig ? walk off, you're not wanted
here . '

Charlie stood for one moment stunned and irreso-

lute. Had there been in Tom's face the faintest
lirnmer of regret, or the faintest trace of the old
affection, he would have stayed and braved all con-
sequences. But there was neither. The spell that
bound Tom Drift, his fear of being thought a milksop,
had changed him utterly, and as Charlie's eyes turned
with pleading look to his they met only with menace
and confusion.

( Go! ; repeated Tom, driven nearly wild by the
mocking laugh in which Mortimer and his two com-
panions joined.

This, then, was the end of their friendship — so full
of hope on one side, so full of promise on the other.

It was a strange moment in the lives of those two.
To one it was the wilful throwing away of the last
and best chance of deliverance, to the other it was the

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 155

cruel extinction of a lovo and trust that had till now
bid fair to stand the wear of years to come.

" Get out, I say 1 ' said Tom Drift, once more goaded
to madness by the pitying sneers of Mortimer.

Charlie Btayed no longer. Half stunned, and
scarcely knowing what he did, with one wild, mute
prayer at his heart, he turned without a word and left
the room.

Tom's friends followed his departure with mocking
laughter, and watched his slowly retreating figure
down the street with many a foul jest, and then re-
turned to congratulate Tom Drift on his deliverance.

' Well,' said Gus, ' you are well rid of Mm, at any
rate. What a lucky thing wo turned up just when
we did ! He'd have snivelled you into a shocking

condition. Whv, what a weak-minded fellow Tom
is ; ain't he, Jack ? '

' Wathah/ replied Jack, with a laugh.

Meanwhile Tom had abandoned even himself. He
hated his friends, he hated himself, he hated Charlie
and cursed himself for having ever allowed him within
his doors. He took no notice of Gus's gibes for a long
time. At last, \Ugh ! ' said he, 'never mind if I'm
weak-minded or not, I'm sick of all this. Suppose we
go off to the supper, and I'll stand treat afterwards at
the music-hall 1 '

And crushing his hat on his head, he dashed out of
the house utterly reckless and desperate.

Need I say my thoughts were with the poor injured
boy, who, stung with ingratitude, robbed of his friend,
and ill with mingled pity, dread, and sorrow, walked
slowly down the street away from Tom's lodgings 1

156 THE ADVENTURES OF

Ah ! when should I see his face or hear his voice again

now ?

At the supper that evening Tom drank often and

deeply, and of all the party his shout rose highest and
his laugh drowned all the others. They led him stag-
gering away among them, and brought him to their
vile resort. Even his companions wondered at his
reckless demeanour, and expostulated with him on his
extravagant wildness. He laughed them to scorn and
called for more drink. After a while they rose to de-
part, leaving him where he was, noisy and helpless.

How long he remained so I cannot say, for suddenly
and most unexpectedly I found myself called upon to
enter upon a new stage in my career.

As my master leaned back hopelessly tipsy in Ms
seat, a hand quietly and swiftly slipped under his coat
and drew me from my pocket ; as swiftly the chain
was detached from its button-hole, and the next thing
I was conscious of was being thrust into a strange
pocket, belonging to some one who was quitting the
hall as fast as his legs would carry him.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 157

CHAPTER X'V

How I found myself in very low company.

Y capturer was a boy, and as remarkable a speci-

men of a boy as it has ever been my lot to meet
during the whole of my career. His age was, say, four-
teen. He stood four feet one in his slipshod boots.
The hat which adorned his head was an old white
billycock, which in its palmy days might have adorned
noble brows, so fashionable were its pretensions.
Now, alas ! it had one side caved in, and the other
was green with wear and weather. The coat
which arrayed his manly form was evidently one not
made recently or to wearer's measure, for besides
showing cracks and rents in various parts, its tails were
so extravagantly long for its small occupant that the}'
literally almost touched the ground. His nether gar-
ments, on the other hand, although they resembled
the coat in their conveniences for ventilation, being all
in rags and tatters, appeared to have been borrowed
from a smaller pair of legs even than those owned
by my present possessor, for they — at least one leg
barely reached half way below the knee, while the
other stopped short very little lower. Altogether,

F

138 THE ADVENTURES OF

the boy was as nondescript and ' scarecrowy ' an object
as one could well expect to meet with.

As he left the hall he gave a quick look round to
assure himself no one was following him ; then he
darted across the road and proceeded to shuffle
forward in so extremely leisurely and casual a way,
that very few of the people who met him would have
imagined he carried a stolen watch in his pocket.

Such a hole as it was ! As soon as I had sufficiently
recovered from my astonishment to look about me, I
became aware that I was by no means the sole occu-
pant of the receptacle he was pleased to designate by
the title of a pocket, but which other people would

have called a slit in the lining of his one sound coat-
tail.

There was a stump of a clay pipe, with tobacco
still hot in it. There was a greasy piece of string, a
crust of bread, a halfpenny, a few brass buttons, and
a very greasy and very crumpled and very filthy copy
of a ' penny awful ' paper. I need hardly say that this
scrutiny did not afford me absolute pleasure. In the
first place, my temporary lodging was most unsavoury
and unclean ; and in the second place, there was not
one among my many fellow-lodgers who could be said
to be in my position in life, or to whom I felt in any
way tempted to address any inquiry.

This difficulty, however, was settled for me. A
voice close beside me said, in a hoarse whisper, ' What
cheer, Turnip ? how do you like it ? '

I looked round, and perceived that the speaker was
the clay pipe, who happened to be close beside me as
I lav.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 159

I held 1x13/ nose — so to speak (for watches are not
supposed to be gifted Avith that organ) — the tobacco
which was smouldering in him must have been a month
old, while the pipe itself looked remarkably grimy and
dirty. However, thought I, there would be no use in
being uncivil to my new comrades, unpleasant though
they were, and I might as w T ell make use of this pipe
to assist me to certain information I was curious to
get. So I answered, ' I don't like it at all. Can you
tell me where I am ? '

' Where are you, Turnip ? Why, you're in young
Cadger's pocket, to be sure ; but you won't stay there
long, no error.'

I secretly wished this objectionable pipe would not
insist on addressing me as ' Turnip,' but on the whols
the present did not seem exactly the time to stand on
my dignity, so I replied,

' Why, what's going to become of me ? '

1 What's going to become of you, Turnip I Why,
you'll go to Cadger's uncle. Won't he, mate ? '

The mate addressed was the piece of string, who, I
should say, was by no means the latest addition to the
Cadger's collection of valuables. He now grinned and
Wriggled in reply to the pipe's appeal, and snuffled,

'That's right, mate ; that's where he'll go. Do you
hear, Turnip ? that's where you'U go — to Cadgers
uncle.'

It occurred to me that Cadger's uncle would have to
be vastly more respectable and fragrant than his
nephew to make the change at all advantageous to me

' Is young Cadger a thief ? ' I next inquired.

The pipe laughed.

iCo THE ADVENTURES OF

' Why, what a funny chap you are, Turnip 1 ' it said.
* Does it look like it ? Cadger a thief 1— oh, my eye !

rot at all. Eh, mate ? '

The greasy string took up the laugh, and snivelled

in chorus.

'Ho, hoi ain't he a fumvy chap? Do you hear,
Turnip % ain't you a funny chap % Oh, my eye I not

at all.'

It was disgusting ! Not only was I cooped up in an

abominably filthy tail-coat pocket, with a motley
rabble of disreputable associates, but every time I
opened my lips here I was insulted and laughed at
Tor every word I spoke.

However, I gathered that the purport of the reply
to my last inquiry was that the young Cadger v:as

a thief, and I made one more attempt to gain in-
formation.

* Where are we going to now ? ' I asked.

' Going ! s cried the pipe, with his insulting jeer.
1 What, don't you know where you're a-going, old
Turnip ? You're a-going wherever he takes yer ;
ain't he, mate ? '

It was positively painful to see how that vile piece
of string wriggled as he replied,

4 Do you hear, Turnip ? You're a-going wherever
young Cadger takes yer. Now what do you think

of that ? '

It was impossible to continue a conversation with

ruch low, ill-mannered creatures, and I therefore
abandoned the attempt, having at least ascertained
that I was at present located in a thief's pocket, that
my immediate destination w r as vague, and that ulti-

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 161

matcly I might expect to become the property of a
near relative of my present possessor.

Noticing that I became silent, the pipe and the
string between them began to question me. But I wan
neither in the mood nor the desire to gratify their
curiosity. They therefore contented themselves with
cracking jokes at my expense, and thus we journeyed
together a mile or two towards our unknown destina-
tion.

Presently a dirty little hand came groping down
into our place of retreat. It first fumbled me and my
chain, with a view, I suppose, to ascertain if we were
all safe, and then proceeded among the other occu-
pants of the pocket to secure and draw forth the half-
penny which I have before mentioned.

I was relieved to have even one of my unpleasant
companions removed, and could not refrain from ex-
pressing my feelings by a sigh.

' What are you snivelling at, Turnip ? ' asked the pipe.

I did not deign to reply.

* Suppose yer think that there sou, 1 (fancy the
stump of a cl&y pipe speaking French !) l is gone for
good, and good riddance, do yer ? You wait a bit,
that's all.'

* Boh, boh I ' chimed in the string. ' Do you hear,
Turnip ? Wait till you see the soldier ; then see how
you'll laugh ! '

* What soldier ? ' I inquired, my curiosity for a
moment getting the better of my reserve. I could
not imagine what possible connexion there could be
between the military and the disreputable copper I
had so lately seen depart.

162 THE ADVENTURES OF

I was not long in suspense, however, for before ray
two vulgar companions could answer my question,
tho * soldier ' made his appearance.

The dirty little hand again entered our quarters,
and let fall in our midst a red herring ! At the sight
and smell of him I turned sick with disgust. Fancy
a silver watch sat upon, squeezed, and besmeared by
a reeking red herring. He came sprawling right
on the top of me, the brute, his ugly mouth wide
open and his loathsome fins scraping along my back.

Ugh l

* That there's the soldier, Turnip ; ain't it, mate ? '

called out the pipe.

* Do you hear, Turnip ? this here's the soldier
How do you like him ? ' snuffled the string.

It was enough I I felt my nerves collapse, and my

circulation fail, and for the remainder of that dreadful
night I was speechless.

I was not, however, blind, or so far gone as to

be unable to notice in a vague sort of way what
happened.

The young gentleman rejoicing in the name of
Cadger (but whose real cognomen I subsequently
ascertained to be Stumpy Walker) proceeded on his
walk, whistling shrilly to himself, exchanging a pass-
ing recognition with one and another loafer, and
going out of his way to kick every boy he saw smaller
than himself, which last exertion, by the way, at
twelve o'clock at night he did not find very often
necessary.

I observed that he did not go out of his way to
avoid the police ; on the contrary, he made a point

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 163

of touching his hat to every guardiaa of the peace he
happened to meet, and actually went so far as to
inform one that ' he'd want hi3 muckintogs before
morning ' — a poetical way of prophesying rain.

He proceeded down a succession of back streets,
which it would have puzzled a stranger to remember,
till he came into a large deserted thoroughfare which
was undergoing a complete renovation of its drainage
arrangements. All along the side of the road ex-
tended an array of huge new pipes, some three feet
in diameter, awaiting their turn underground. Into
one of these Master Walker dived, and as it was just
tall enough to allow of his sitting upright in its in-
terior, and just long enough to allow his small person
to he at full length without either extremity pro-
truding ; and further, as the rain was just beginning
to come down, I could not forbear, even in the
midst of my misery, admiring his selection of a
lodging.

Greatly to my relief, the ( soldier,' the crust, and
the pipe were all three presently summoned from the
pocket, and with the help of the first two and the
consolation of the last, Master Walker contrived to
make an evening meal which at least afforded him
satisfaction.

Before making himself snug for the night he pulled
ma out, and by the aid of the feeble light of a neigh-
bouring lamp-post, made a hasty examination of my
exterior and interior. Having apparently satisfied
himself as to my value, he put me and the pipe back
into his dreadful pocket, from which, even yet, the
fumes of the ' soldier ' had not faded, and then curled

164 THE ADVENTURES OF

himself up like a dormouse and composed himself
i-o slumber.

He had not, however, settled himself many moments
before another ragged figure oame crawling down the
inside of the pipes towards him. Stumpy started up
fet the first sound in a scared sort of way, but instantly
resuined his composure on seeing who the intruder

was.

' What cheer, Stumpy \ ' said the latter.

' What cheer, Tuppeny ? ' replied my master.
4 Where' ve yer been to 1 '

1 Lunnon Bridge/ replied Mr. Tuppeny.

' An* what 'ave yer got 1 ' asked Stumpy.

* Only a rag/ said the other, in evident disgust^
producing a white handkerchief.

t m

That ain't much ; I've boned a turnip/
* Jus' your luck. Let's 'ave a look at him/
Stumpy complied, and his comrade, lighting a match,
surveyed me with evident complacency.

' Jus' your luck/ said he again. ' Where did yer

::_-.. o >

gu im s

' At the gaif, off a young cove as was regular
screwed up. I could 'ave took 'is nose off if I'd a
wanted it, and he wouldn't have knowed/

* Then this 'ere rag might 'a been some use/ replied
the disconsolate Tuppeny. * 'Tain't worth three-

3 J

u pence.

' Any marks ? ' inquired my master.

1 Yees ; there is so. C. N. it is ; hup in one corner.
He was sticking out of the pocket of a young chap
as was going along with a face as long as a fooneral,
and as miserable-lookin' as if 'e'd swallowed a cat/

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 165

C. N. I Could this handkerchief possibly have
belonged to poor Charlie Newcome ? His way home
from Grime Street I knew would lead by London
Bridge, and with the trouble of that afternoon upon
him, would he not indeed have looked as miserable
as the thief described ?

And these two boys, having thus briefly compared
notes, and exhibited to one another their ill-gotten
gains, curled themselves up and fell fast asleep.

Dear reader, does it ever occur to your mind that
there are hundreds of such vagrants in this great
city ? Night after night they crowd under railway
arches and sheds, on doorstep and in cellars. They
have neither home nor friend. To many of them the
thieves' life is their natural calling ; they live as

animals live, and hope only as animals hope, and
when they die, die as animals die ; ignorant of God,
ignorant of good, ignorant of their own souls. Yet
even for such as they, Christ died, and the Spirit strives.

The pipe, and his friend, the string, that night had
a long conversation as their master lay asleep. They
evidently thought I was asleep too, for they made
no effort to conceal their voices, and I consequently
heard every word.

It chiefly had reference to me, and was in the main

satirical.

* Some coves is uncommon proud o T themselves,
mate, ain't they ? — particular them as ain't much
account after all ? '

1 You're right, mate. Do you hear, Turnip ? you
ain't much account ; you're on'y silver-plate, yer know,
bo you don't ought to be proud, you don't ! *

i66 THE ADVENTURES OF

1 What I say/ continued the pipe, * is that coves aa
;ives 'emselves hairs above their stations is a miser-
able lot. What do you think ? '

' What don't I 1 ' snuffled the string. ' Do you
hear, Turnip ? you're a miserable cove, you are.
Why can't you be 'appy like me and my mate ? Wa
don't give ourselves hairs ; that's why we're 'appy/

'And, arter all,' pursued the pipe, ' that's the sort
of coves as go second-hand in the end. People 'ud
think better on 'em if they didn't think such a lot of
theirselves ; wouldn't they now, mate ? '

' Wouldn't they just I What do you think of that,
Turnip ? You're on'y t second-hand turnip, now, and
that's all along of being stuck-up and thinking such a
lot of yourself I You won't go off for thirty bob,
you won't ; see I '

' Mate ! ' exclaimed the pipe, presently (after I had
had leisure to meditate on the foregoing philosophical
dialogue), 'mate, I'll give you a riddle 1 '

'Go it I ' said the mate.

1 Why/ asked the pipe, in a solemn voice, ' is a
second-hand pewter-plate, stuck-up turnip, like a
weskit that ain't paid for ? '

' Do you hear, Turnip ? Why are you like a weskit
that ain't paid for 1 Do yer give it up ? I do.'

' 'Cos it's on tick 1 ' pronounced the pipe.

I could have howled to find myself the victim of
euoh a low, villainous joke, that had not even the
pretence of wit, and I could have cried to see how
that greasy string wriggled and snuffled at my

expense.

' My eye, mate ! that's a good 'un 1 Do you hear,

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 167

Turnip % you're on tick, you know, like the weskit.
Oh, my eye ! that'll do, mate ; another o* them wllJ
kill me. Oh, turn it up ! do you hear ? On tick 1— -
hoo, hoo, hoo ! Do you hear, Turnip ? tick ! '

Need I say I spent a sad and sleepless night ?
When my disgust admitted of thought I could not
help reflecting how very happy some vulgar people
can be with a very little sense, and how very unhappy
other people who flatter themselves they are very
clever and superior can at times find themselves.

By the time I had satisfied myself of this my
master uncurled himself and got up*

i68 THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER XVI

How I changed masters twice in two days, and

after all found myself in pawn.

T was scarcely four o'clock when my lord and
master arose from his brief repose, and sallied
through the rain and darkness hack in the direction

of the city. He was far less anxious to salute the
] olice now than he had been a few hours ago. He
slunk down the back streets, and now and then
darted up a court at the sound of approaching foot-
steps ; or retreated for some distance by the way
he had come, in order to strike a less guarded

btreet.

In this manner he pursued his w T ay for about an
hour, till he reached a very narrow street of tumble-
down houses, not far from Holborn. Down this he
wended his way till he stood before a door belonging
to one of the oldest, dingiest, and most decayed
houses in all the street. Here he gave a peculiar
scrape with his foot along the bottom of the door,
and then sat down on the doorstep.

Presently a voice came through the keyhole, hi a
whisper.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 169

* That you, Stumpy ? ' it said.
' Yas,' replied my master.

' All clear ? '

Stumpy looked up and down the street and then
hurriedly whispered ( No.'

Instantly the voice within was silent, and Stumpy
was to all appearance sleeping soundly and heavily,
as if tired nature in him had fairly readied its last
strait.

The distant footsteps came nearer ; and still he
slept on, snoring gently and regularly. The police-
man advanced leisurely, turning his lantern first on
this doorway, then on that window ; trying now a
shutter-bar, then a lock. At last he stood opposite
the doorstep where Stumpy lay. It was a critical
moment. He turned his lamp full on the boy's
sleeping face, he took hold of his arm mid gently
shook him, he tried the bolt of the door against which
he leaned. The sleeper only grunted drowsily and
settled down to still heavier slumber, and the police-
man, evidently satisfied, walked on.

* Is he gone ? ' asked the voice within, the moment
the retreating footsteps showed this.

'Yas, but he'll be back,' whispered the boy.

And so he was. Three times he paced the street,
and every time found the boy in the same position,
and wrapped in the same profound slumber. Then at
last he strode slowly onward to the end of his beat,
and his footsteps died gradually away.

' Now ? ' inquired the voice.

' Yas,' replied Stumpy.

AVhereat the door half opened, and Stumpy entered.

170 THE ADVENTURES OF

It was a dirty, half-ruinous house, in which the rats
had grown tame and the spiders fat. The stairs
creaked dismally as Stumpy followed his entertainer
up them, while the odours rising from every nook
and cranny in the place were almost suffocating.

The man led the way into a small room, foul and
pestilential in its closeness. In it lay on the floor no
less than nine or ten sleeping figures, mostly juveniles,
huddled together, irrespective of decency, health, or
comfort. Stumpy surveyed the scene composedly.

1 Got lodgers, then/ he observed.

1 Yes, two on 'em — on'y penny ones, though.'

Just then a sound of moaning came from one
corner of the room, which arrested Stumpy's at-
tention.

1 Who's that ? ' he asked.

' Old Sal r , she's bad, and I reckon she won't last
much longer the way she's a-going on. I shall pack
her off to-dav.'

Stumpy whistled softly ; but it was evident, by the
frequent glances he stole every now and then towards
the corner where the sufferer lay, that he possessed a
certain amount of interest in the woman described as
1 Old Sal.'

The man who appeared to be the proprietor of this
one well-filled lodging-room was middle-aged, and
had a hare-lip. He had an expression half careworn,
and half villainous, of which he gave Stumpy the full
benefit as he inquired.

1 What 'ave yer got ? *

' Got, pal ? * replied Stumpy ; ' a ticker.*

' Hand it up/ said the man, hurriedly.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 171

Stumpy produced me, and the man, taking me to
the candle, examined me greedily and minuteiv.
Then he said/

' I shall get fifteen bob for him.'

' Come, now, none of your larks ! ' replied Stumpy,
who had produced the pipe, and was endeavouring to
rekindle its few remaining embers at the candle ; '' try

ag'in. 5

£ Well, I don't see as he'll fetch seventeen-and-six,
bnt I'll do it for you.'

' Try ag'in/ coolly replied Stumpy.

The man did try again, and named a sovereign,
which my master also declined.

In this manner he advanced to twenty-four shillings.

1 Won't do/ said Stumpy.

'Then you can take 'im off/ said the man, with an
oath ; s he ain't worth the money.'

* Yas e is, an' a tanner more/ put in Stumpy.

The man 'uttered a few more oathr, and again
examined me. Then he dropped me in his pocket,
and slowly counted out the purchase-money from a
drawer at his side.

Stumpy watched the process eagerly, doubtless

calculating with professional interest how the entire

hoard of this thieves' broker could at some convenient

opportunity be abstracted. However, for the present

he made sure of the sum given him, and dropped the
coins one by one into his tail pocket.

' Now lay down/ said the man, ' and make yourself
comfortable/

I fancy Stumpy was a good deal more comfortable
in his drain-pipe an hour or two ago than in this foul,

172 THE ADVENTURES OF

choking lodging-room ; however, he curled himself up
on the floor near the dying woman, and did his share
in exhausting the air of the apartment.

I should offend all rules of good taste and decency
if I described the loathsome room ; I wish I could
forget it, but that I shall never do. Suffice it to say
daylight broke in at last on the squalid scene, and
then one by one the sleepers rose and departed — all
but Stumpy and she whose groaning had risen cease-
lessly and hopelessly the livelong night.

' Old Sal's very bad,' said Stumpy to his host.

* Yas, she'll have to clear out of here.'

* She's nigh dying, I reckon,' said the boy.

* Can't help that ; she ain't paid a copper this three
weeks, and I ain't a-going to have her lumbering up
my place no longer.'

' Where's she a-going to ? ' asked Stumpy.
' How do I know ? — out of 'ere, anyways, and pretty
scon, too. I can tell yer.'

* Pal,' said the boy, after a long pause, ' I charged
ver a tanner too much for that there ticker : here
you are, lay hold.'

And he tossed back the sixpence. The man under-
stood quite well the meaning of the act, and Old Sal
lay undisturbed all that day.

Stumpy took his departure early. I have never seen
liim since ; what has become of him I know not ;
where he is now I know still less.

But to return to myself. I spent that entire day in
the man's pocket, too ill to care what became of me,
and too weak to notice much of what passed around
me. I was conscious of others like Stumpy coming

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 173

r.p the creaking stairs and offering their ill-gotten
gains as he had done ; and I was conscious towards
evening, when the last rays of the setting sun were
struggling feebly through the dingy window, of a
groan in that dismal corner, deeper than all that had
gone before. Then I knew Old Sal was dead. In an
hour the body was laid in its rude coffin, and had
made its last journey down those stairs : and that
night another outcast slept in her corner.

The night was like the one which had preceded it,

sickenin

Jin

had sufficiently deadened my senses to render me

durin;

hours. Morning came at length, and one by one the
youthful lodgers took their departure. When the last
had left, my possessor produced a bag, into which he
thrust me, with a score or more of other articles

&'.

lookin

door behind him, he descended the stairs and stepped
out.

Oh, the delight" of that breath of fresh morning air !
Even as it struggled in through the crevices and
cracks of that old bag, it was like a breath of Para-
dise, after the vile, pestilential atmosphere of that
room !

As we went on, I had leisure to observe the company
of which I formed one. What a motley crew we were I
There were watches, snuff-boxes, and pencils, bracelets
and brooches, handkerchiefs and gloves, studs, pins,
and rings — all huddled together higgledy-piggledy.
We none of us spoke to one another, nor inquired
whither we were going ; we were a sad, spiritless

174 THE ADVENTURES OF

assembly, and to some of us it mattered little what;
became of us.

Still I could not help wondering if the man in
whose possession I and my fellow-prisoners found
ourselves was Stumpy's ' uncle,' referred to by that
miserable clay pipe. If he was, I felt I could not
candidly congratulate that youth on his relative.
What he could want with us all I could not imagine.
If I had been the only watch, and if there hadn't been
half a dozen scarf-pins, snuff-boxes, and pencils, it
would not have been so extraordinary. It would have
been easy enough to imagine the person of Stumpy's
' aunt ' decorated with one brooch, two bracelets, and
three or four rings ; but when instead of that modest
allowance these articles were present by the half-
dozen, it was hardly possible to believe that any one
lady could accommodate so much splendour. How-
ever, I could only suppose the superfluous treasures
were destined for Stumpy's cousins, masculine and
feminine, and occupied the rest of the journey in the
harmless amusement of wondering to whose lot I was
likely to fall.

The man walked some considerable distance, and
strangely enough bent his steps in a direction not far
removed from St. Elizabeth's Hospital. Surely he
was not going to restore me to Tom Drift 1 No ; wo
passed the end of Grime Street. There were milk-
men's carts rattling up and down ; servants were
scrubbing doorsteps ; and a few sleepy-looking men,
with their breakfasts in their hands, were scurrying off
to work. It was all the same as usual ; yet how in-
teresting, all of a sudden, the dull street had become

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 175

to me. It was here I had last seen poor Charlie,
outraged and struck by the friend he strove to save,
creeping slowly home ; it was here Tom Drift still
dwelt, daily sinking in folly and sin, with no friend
now left to help him. Poor Tom Drift I How gladly
would i have returned to him, even to be neglected
and ill-used, if only I might have the opportunity
once again of fulfilling that charge put upon me
by my first master, and which yet ever rang in my
ears,

' Be good to Tom Drift.'

But it was not to be yet. The man walked rapidly
on down a street parallel with Grime Street, at the
farthest corner of which stood a small private house.
Here he knocked.

The occupant of the house evidently knew and
expected him, for he at once admitted him, and led
the way upstairs into a private parlour. Here the
thieves' broker emptied the contents of his bag, laying

the articles one by one on the table.

The man of the house looked on in an unconcerned

way while this was taking place, picking up now one,

now another of the objects, and examining them

superficially. When the bag was empty, and the

whole of the ill-gotten booty displayed, he remarked,

* Not so much this time, Bill/

c No ; trade's bad, sir,' replied he who owned the
bag.

' Well, I'll send the most of 'em down to the country
to-day/ resumed the master of the house.

' When shall I call, sir ? ' inquired Stumpy's friend.

€ Monday. But look here, Bill ! ' said the other,

176 THE ADVENTURES OF

taking me up, ' it's no use leaving this ; I shall bo
able to manage the gold ones, but this is no good/

I had long lost the pride which in former days would
have made me resent such a remark, and patiently
waited for the result.

Stumpy's friend took me back. ' Well/ he said
1 if you can't, you can't. 1*11 see to him myself. Well,
good-day ; and I'll call on Monday.'

And he turned to depart, with me in his hand. In
a minute, however, he came back. ( Would yer mind
leading me some togs, sir, for a few minutes ? * said
he ; ' I don't want no questions asked at the pawnshop. 9

And he certainly did not look, in his present get-
up, as the likeliest sort of owner of a silver watch.
The man of the house, however, lent him some clothes,
in which he arrayed himself, and which so trans-
formed him that anv one would have taken him,
not for the disreputable thieves' broker he was, but
for the unfortunate decayed gentleman he professed
to be. In this guise he had no difficulty in disposing
of me at the nearest pawnbroker's shop, which
happened to be at the corner of Grime Street.

The pawnbroker asked no questions, and I am sure
never suspected anything wrong. He advanced
thirty shillings on me and the chain, gave the man
his ticket, and put a corresponding one on me.

Then Stumpy's friend departed, and my new master
went back to his breakfast.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 177

CHAPTER XVII

How Torn Drift gets lower still.

r "PWO years passed.

JL They were, without exception, the dullest two
years I, or, I venture to Bay, any watch made, ever
speiit. There I lay, run down, tarnished and neg-
lected, on the pawnbroker's shelf, never moved, never
used, never thought of. Week followed week, and
month month, and still no claimant for me came.
Other articles on the shelves beside me came and
went, some remaining only a day, some a week, but
I survived them all. Even my friend the chain took
his departure, and left me without a soul to speak to.
None of the hundreds of tickets handed in bore the
magic number 2222, which would have released me
from my ignoble custody, and, in time, I gave up
expecting it, and settled down to the old-fogeydom
of my position, and exacted all the homage due to
the * father of the shop ' from my restless com-
panions.

My place was at the end of a long shelf, next to
the screen dividing the shop from the office, and my
sole amusement during those two dreary years was

178 THE ADVENTURES OF

peeping through a crack and watching my master's
customers. They were of all sorts and all conditions,
and many of them became familiar.

There was the little girl, for instance, the top of
whoso bonnet just reached as high as the counter,
who, regularly every Monday morning, staggered in
under the weight of a bundle containing her father's
Sunday clothes, and, as regularly every Saturday
evening, returned to redeem them. It was evident
her respectable parent did not attend many evening
parties between those two days, for I never remember
his sending for them except at the regular times.
Then there was the wretched drunkard, who crept
in stealthily, with now a child's coat, now a picture,
now a teapot ; and with the money thus raised
walked straight across the road to the public-house.
And there was his haggard, worn wife, who always
came next day with the ticket, and indignantly took
back her household goods. There was the young
sailor's wife, too, with her baby in her arms, who came
rarely at first, but afterwards more often, to pawn her
few poor treasures, until at length a glad day came
when the brawny tar himself, with his pockets full of
cash, came with her and redeemed them every one.

I could tell of scores of others if I wished, but I
have my own life to record, and not the transactions
of my master, the pawnbroker.

One day, towards the end of the first year, the door
opened softly and quickly, and there entered into the
office a youth, haggard and reckless-looking, whom,
I thought, surely I had seen before. I looked again.
Was it possible ? Yes ! this was none other than

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 179

Tom Drift ! But oh, how changed I A year ago,
erring and wayward as he had been, he was yet
respectable ; his dress was the dress of a gentleman ;
his bearing was that of a gentleman too ; hia face
had been naturally intelligent and pleasant ; and his
voice clear and cheerful. But now ! There was a
wild, restless roll about his eyes, a bright flush on his
hollow cheeks, a dulness about his mouth, a hoarse-
ness in his voice, which seemed to belong to another
being. He was dissipated and seedy in appearance,
and hung his head, as though ashamed to meet a
fellow-being's look, and, instead of one, looked at least
ten years older than he had.

Such a wreck will evil ways make of a youth !

He looked eagerly round, to see that no one but he
was in the office, and then produced from his pocket

a scarf-pin.

' What will you give me for this ? ' he whis-
pered.

The pawnbroker took it up and turned it over. It
was a handsome pin, with a pearl in the front.

' Ten shillings,' said the pawnbroker.

' What I ' exclaimed Tom ; ' do you know what it's
worth 1 *

' Ten shillings is all I can give you,' curtly replied
the pawnbroker.

Tom gulped down a groan. ( Give me the money,
then, for goodness' sake,' he said.

The pawnbroker coolly and deliberately made out
the ticket, while Tom stood chafing impatiently.

s Be quick, please ! ' he said, as though fearful of
some one detecting him in a crime.

180 THE ADVENTURES OF

* Don't you be in a hum 7 / said the pawnbroker.
1 Here's the ticket.'

' And the ten shillings % ' broke in Tom.

' You shall have it/ said my master, going to big
drawer.

To Tom it seemed ages while the silver was being
counted, and when he had got it he darted from the
shop as swiftly as he had entered it.

4 That fellow's going wrong/ muttered the pawn-
broker to himself, as he laid the pin on the shelf be-
side me.

I recognized it at once as having often been my
companion on Tom's dressing-table at nights, but I
myself was so discoloured and ill that it did not at first
kiiow me. I was too anxious, however, to hear some
thing about Tom to allow myself to remain disguised.

' Don't you know me, scarf-pin ? ' I asked.

He looked hard at me. ' Not a bit/ he said.

' I'm Tom Drift's old watch/

s You don't say so ! So you are ! How ever did
you come here ? Did he pawn you ? '

' No ; I was stolen from him one night at the music-
hall, and pawned here by the thief.'

' Ah, that music-hall ! ' groaned the pin ; ' that
place has ruined Tom Drift/

1 When I left him/ I said, * he was just going to the
bad as hard as he could. He had broken with his:
best friend, and seemed completely '

1 Hold hard I what friend ? ' interposed the pin.

* Charlie Newcome, my first master ; they had a
quarrel the day I was stolen.'

* That must be nearly two 3 7 ears ago ? ' said the pin.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 181

* Just/ said I. ( Do tell me what has happened
since then.'

' It* s a long story/ said the pin.

1 Never mind, we've nothing else to do here/ I said
encouragingly.

' Well/ said the pin, * Ihe night you were lost Tom
never turned up at home at all/

'He was utterly drunk/ I said, by way of explana-

* ^

uon.

' Don't you interrupt/ said the pin. ' or I won't tell
you anything.'

I was silenced.

' Tom never turned up at all until the next mornin
'uid he sat all that day in his chair, and did nothing
;-ut look at the wall in front of him.'

* Poor fellow ! * I could not help saying.

' There you go 1 ' said the pin ; ' be good enough to
remember what I said, and if vou can't endure to hear
of anybody sitting and looking at a wail,, it's no use
my going on with my story.'

* I onlv meant that x could imagine how miserable
he was that day/ said I ; c but go on, please.'

' Two or three days after, Charlie Newcome called.
Tom was alone, but he refused to see him. He cursed
to himself when he heard the name. Charlie went
back disappointed, but Tom made a great boast to
his " friends " that same night of his " cold shoulder to
the prig/' as he called it, and they highly applauded
him for his sense.

' Again, a week later, Charlie called once more, but
with the same result. He wrote letters, but Tom put
them in the fire unread ; he sent books, but they were all

182 THE ADVENTURES OF

flung into a corner. In a thousand different ways lie
contrived to show Tom that, though ill-used and in
suited, he was still his friend, and ready to serve hira
whenever opportunity should offer.

' All this while Tom was sinking lower and lower
in self-respect. He was contracting a habit of drink-
ing, and in a month or two after you had left he rarely
came home sober.'

' And what about his bad friends ? ' asked I.

' There you are ! why can't you let me tell my story
in peace ? His bad friends visited him daily at first,
made a lot of him, and praised him loudly for hip
resolution in dismissing Charlie, and for his " growing
a man at last." They lent him money, thoy lost to
him at cards and billiards, and they made his down-
ward path as easy for him as possible.

' At last, about six months ago, Tom was found
tipsy in the dissecting-room at the hospital, and
cautioned by the Board. A fortnight later he was
found in a similar state in one of the wards, and then
he was summarily expelled from the place, and his
name w r as struck off the roll of students.'

( Has it come to that ? ' I groaned.

( Come to that ? Of course it has ; I shouldn't haye
said so if it hadn't/ replied the testy pin, who seemed
unable to brook the slightest interruption. ' He took
a fit of blues after that ; he went to the Board, and
begged to be allowed to return to his studies, repre-
senting that all his prospects in life depended on his
finishing his course there. They gave him one more
chance. In his gratitude he resolved to discard his
oVl companions, and actually sat down and wrote a

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 183

letter to Charlie, begging him to come and see

mm.'

* Did he really ? ' I exclaimed, trembling with

eagerness.

' All right, I shall not tell you of it again. Stop me
once more, and you'll have to find the rest of my story
out for yourself.'

1 I'm very sorry,' said I.

' So you ought to be. When it came to the timo,
however, Tom's resolutions failed him. Gus and his
friends called as usual that evening and laughed him
to scorn. He dare not quarrel with them, dare not
resist them. He crumpled up the letter in his pocket
and never posted it, and that night returned to his evil
ways without a struggle.

* For a week or two, however, he kept up appear-
ances at the hospital ; but it could not last. A mis-
demeanour more serious than the former one caused

\

hia second expulsion, and this time with an intimation
that under no circumstances would he be readmitted.
That was three months ago. He became desperate,
and at the same time the behaviour of Gus altered.
Instead of nattering and humouring him, he became
imperious and spiteful. And still further, he demanded
to be repaid the money he had advanced to Tom.
Tom paid what little he could, and borrowed the rest
from Mortimer. He got behindhand with his rent,
and his landlady has given him notice. As usual,
everybody to whom he owes money has found out
his altered circumstances, and is down on him. The
keeper of the music-hall, the tailor, the cigar merchant,
are among the most urgent.'

184 THE ADVENTURES OF

4 And your being here is a result of all this, I see,'
said I, knowing the story was at an end, and consider-
ing ray tongue to be released.

£ land out 1 ' angrily retorted the pin, relapsing
into ill-tempered silence.

I had little enough inclination to revert to the sad
topic, and for the rest of that day gave myself up to
sorrow and pity for Tom Drift. One thing I felt
pretty sure of — it would not be long before ho came

again ; and I was right.

In two days he entered the office, wild and haggard
as before, but with less care to conceal his visit.

This time he laid on the counter the famous lance-
wood fishing-rod which Charlie had given him months
ago, and which surely ought to have been a reminder
to him of better times.

He flung it down, and taking the few shillings the
pawnbroker advanced on it, hurried from the shop.

The next time he came some one else was in the
shop. A passing flush came over Tom's face on
discovering a witness to his humiliation ; but he
transacted his business with an assumed swagger
which ill accorded with his inward misery. For even
yet Tom Drift had this much of hope left in him
that he knew he was fallen, and was miserable at
the thought. His self-respect and sensitiveness had
been growing less day by day, and he himself growing
proportionately hardened ; but still he knew what
remorse was, and by the very agony of his shame
was still held out of the lowest of all depths — the
deoths of ruthless sin.

The stranger in the shop eyed him keenly, and

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 185

when he had gone said to the pawnbroker, ' He's
a nice article, he is t *

< AT

l\ot much good, I'm thinking, 'observed the pawn-
broker, dryly.

1 o

So you may say ; I know the beauty. He banged
nje on the 'ed with a chair once, when he was screwed.
Never mind, I know of two or three as is after him.'

And so saying, the disreputable man departed.

After that Tom came daily. Now it was an article
of clothing, now some books., now some furniture,
that he brought. It was soon evident that not only
was he miserable and destitute, but ill too ; and when
presently for a fortnight ho never passed the now well-
known door, I knew that the fever had laid him low.

Poor Tom Drift I I wondered who was there now to
nurse him in his weakness and comfort him in his

wretchedness. He must be untended and unheeded.
Well I knew his ' friends ' (oh, sad perversion of the
ts acred title !) would keep their distance, or return only
in time to quench the first sparks of repentance. If
only Charlie could have seen him at this time, with
his spirit cowed and his weary heart beating about in
vain for peace and hope, how would ho not have flown
to his bedside, and from those ruins have striven to
help him to rise again to purity and honesty.

But no Charlie was there. Since the last appealing
letter so scornfully rejected, Tom had heard not a
word of him or from him. What wonder indeed if

after so many disappointments and insults, the boy
should at length leave his old schoolfellow to his
fate ?

With returning health there came to Tom no re*

>. .

t86 THE ADVENTURES OF

turning resolutions or efforts. The friends who had
deserted his sick-bed were ready, as soon as ever Le
rose from it, with their temptations and baneful influ-
ence. One of his first visits after his recovery was to
rny master with a pair of boots. He looked so pale
and feeble that the pawnbroker inquired after hia
health — a most unusual departure from business on the
part of that merchant.

' Hope you're feeling better,' he said.

' Yes ; so much the better for you/ replied Tom with
a ghastly smile. ' What can you give me for these,
they are nearly now ? '

' Five shillings ? '

' Oh, anything you like ; I've to pay two pounds to-
morrow. What you give me is all I shall have to do
it with — I don't care I '

The pawnbroker counted out the five shillings, and
handed them across the counter.

' Good-bye ! ' said Tom, with another attempt at a
smile ; ' I shall have to change my address to-morrow.'

And with that he turned on his heel. I watched
him through the window as he left the shop. He
walked straight across the road and went in at the
public-house opposite.

And that glimpse was the last sight I had of Torn
Drift for many, many months.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 187

CHAPTER XVIII

r I was knocked down by an auctioneer, and

picked up by a countryman.

KE day, about two years after my arrival at
the pawnbroker's shop, an unusual circum-
stance happened to break the- monotony of my
unruffled existence. This was nothing more nor less
than a Clearance Sale, I must tell you how it
happened.

For a week, every night, I saw my master poring
over a big account-book in his parlour, comparing
the entries in it with those of his pawn-tickets, and
marking off on one list what articles had been pawned
and redeemed, and on another what had been pawned
and still remained unredeemed. So lengthy and com-
plicated a process was this that it consumed the entire
week. The next week further indications of a coming
change manifested themselves. A printer came to the
office with a bill for approval, worded as follows : —

* Great Clearance Sale I The entire valuable and
miscellaneous unredeemed stock of a pawnbroker will
be sold by auction at the Central Mart, on Monday
next, by Mr. Hammer. Sale to commence at twelve

i88 THE ADVENTURES OF

o'clock precisely. Catalogues will be ready on Satur-
day, and may be had on application.'

Thus I, and one or two of my neighbours on the
shelf, read as we peeped through the crack at the
printer's proof-sheet.

Entire valuable and miscellaneous unredeemed

c tt

stock ! " that's a good bit of writing,' observed a pair
of silver sugar-tongs near me ; ' that means you and
me and the rest, Ticker. Who'd have thought of us
getting such a grand name ! '

* Well, it strikes me we, at least I, have been lying
Lore idle long enough,' said I; * it's two years since
I came here.'

' Bless, you, that's no time/ said the tongs. * I knew

a

salt-spoon lay once ten years before he was put up
— but then, you know, we silver things are worth our
money any time.'

( Yes,' said I, ' we are.'

The tongs laughed. ' You don't suppose I meant
you when I talked of silver things, do you ? '

' Of course I am a silver watch.'

' You're a bigger muff than I took you for,' replied
the aristocratic tongs, turning his hall-mark towards
me. It was humiliating. Of course I ought to have
known I was not solid silver, and had no claim to
class myself of the same metal as a genuine silver
p'lir of tongs.

It was but one of many painful lessons I have had
(luring my life not to give myself airs beyond my
station.

These solid silver goods certainly constituted the
* upper ten thousand ' of our valuable and miscel-

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 189

laneous community. When the time came for cata-
loguing us all, they separated themselves from the
rest of us, and formed a distinct society, having their
several names recorded in full at the head of the
list.

What a scene it was the day the catalogue came to
our department 1 I suffered a further humiliation then
by being almost entirely overlooked. A great tray of
silver watches lay on the bench, brought together from
all parts of the shop ; and, to my horror, I found I
was not among them.

( That's the lot/ said the pawnbroker.

1 Very good,' said the auctioneer, who was making
the catalogue ; * shall we take leather bags next ? '

* As you please/ said my master.

* Hold hard/ said the auctioneer, hastily counting

the watches on the tray and comparing the number
with a list he held in his hand, ' there's one short/

* Is there ? I don't know how that can be.*

' You've got twenty-two down here and there's only
twenty-one on the tray.*

The pawnbroker looked puzzled.

' Better call over the number/ said the auctioneer.

Sp my master called out the number attached to
each watch, and the auctioneer ticked it off on his list.
When the last had been called, he said,

1 Where's No. 2222 ? '

' Ah, to be sure, that's the one/ said the pawnbroker,
reaching up to where I lay, and taking me down ; % this
one. I'd forgotten all about him.'

Flattering, certainly ! and still more so when tho
auctioneer, surveying my tarnished and dingy appear-

G

i go THE ADVENTURES OF

ance, said, ' Well, he's not much of a show after all.
You'd better rub him up a bit, or we shan't get him
off hand at all.'

' Very good/ said the pawnbroker, and I was handed
over forthwith to an assistant to be cleaned. And
much I needed it. My skin was nearly as black as a
negro's, and my joints and muscles were perfectly
clogged with dust. I had a regular watch's Turkish
bath. I was scrubbed and powdered, my works were
taken out and cleaned, my joints were oiled, my face
was washed, and my hands were polished. Altogether
I was overhauled, and when I took my place on the
tray with my twenty-one companions I was altogether
a new being, and by no means the least presentable
of the company.

How we quarrelled and wrangled, and shouldered
one another on that tray 1 There was such a Babel
of voices (for each of us had been set going) that
scarcely any one could hear himelf speak. Nothing
but recriminations and vituperations rose on every

hand.

* Get out of the way, ugly lever,' snarled one mon-
strous hunter watch near me, big enough for
an ordinary clock. * Who do you suppose wants
you ? Get out of the way, do you hear ? *

1 Where to ? ' I inquired, not altogether liking to
be so summarily ordered about, and yet finding the
excitement of a little quarrel pleasant after two
years* monotony.

1 Anywhere, as long as you get out of my way.
Do you know I'm a hundred years old ? *

* Are you, though ? ' said I. ' People must have

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 191

had bigger pockets in those days than they have

now I '

This I considered a very fair retort for his arro-
gance, and left him snorting and croaking to himself,
and bullying some other little watches, whom, I
suppose, he imagined would be more deferential to
his gray hairs than I was.

I was not destined, however, to be left in peace.

1 Who are you ? ' I heard a sharp voice say.

Looking round, I saw a creature with a great eye
in the middle of his face, and a long, lanky hand
spinning round and round over his visage.

' Who are you, rather ? ' I replied.

It was evidently what he wanted, for he began at
once : ' I'm all the latest improvements — compensa-
tion balance and jewelled in four holes ; perfect for
time, beauty, and workmanship j sound, strong, and
accurate ; with keyless action, and large full-dial
second hand ; air-tight, damp-tight, and dust-tight ;
seven guineas net and five per cent, to teetotalers.
There, what do you think of that ? '

' I think,' said I, with a laugh, in which a good
many others joined, ' that if you're so tight as all that
teetotalers had better do without you.'

It will be observed the scenes and company I had
been in of late years had tended to improve neither
my temper nor my manners.

In this way we spent most of the day before the
auction, and it was quite a relief early next morning
to find ourselves being removed to the ' Central Mart '

It was impossible, however, to resist the temptation

192 THE ADVENTURES OF

of another quarrel in our tray while we were waiting
for the sale to begin. The culprit in this instance
was a certain Queen Anne's shilling attached to the
chain of an insignificant-looking watch.

' What business has that ugly bit of tin here ? '
asked a burly hunter.

I Who calls me an ugly bit of tin ' squeaked out
the coin.

I I do ; there I * said the hunter ; ' now what hava
you got to say ? '

' Only that you're a falsehood. Why, you miserable)

machine-made, wheezing, old make-believe of a
turnip '

1 Draw it mild, young fellow,' said the hunter.

* Do you know that I was current coin of the
realm before the tin mine that supplied your carcass
was so much as discovered ? I'm a Queen Anne 'a
shilling ! '

1 Are you, though ? And what good are you now,
my ancient Bob ? '

The shilling grew, so to speak, black in the face.

' I won't be called a Bob I I'm not a Bob I Who
dares call me a Bob ? '

' I do, Bob ; there, Bob. What do you think c!
that, Bob ? What's the use of you, Bob, eh ? Can
you tell the time, Bob, eh, Bob, Bob, Bob ? '

And we all took up the cry, and from that moment
until the time of our sale every sound, for us, was
drowned in a ceaseless cry of c Bob I * in the midst
of which the unlucky Queen Anne's shilling crawled
under his watch, and devoutly wished he were aa
undoubtedly dead as the illustrious royal lady whose

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 193

image and superscription ho had the misfortune to
bear.

In due time the sale began. Among the earliest
lots I recognized my acquaintance the solid silver
sugar-tongs, which went for very nearly his full value,
thus confirming me in my belief that, after all, there's
nothing like the genuine thing all the world over,
After the disposal of the silver goods — for which
comparatively few people bid, and that with little or
no competition — the real excitement of the auction
began.

' I have here, ladies and gentlemen, ' said the
auctioneer, ' a remarkably fine and superior lot of
silver watches, all of which have been carefully
cleaned and kept in order, and which, I can safely
say, are equal to, if not better than, new. In many
cases the watches are accompanied by chains of a
very elegant and chaste description, which appendages
considerably enhance their value. When I inform
you that we value the contents of this tray, at the
very lowest, at £90, being an average of £4 per watch,
you will see I am not presenting to you any ordinary
lot of goods. I will put up the watches singly
in the order in which they are described i n the
catalogue.'

Some of the company looked as if they were not-
sure whether they ought not to say * Hear, hear I '
after this very elegant and polished speech, but they
restrained their admiration, and reserved their energies
for the bidding.

As I was last on the list I had full opportunity of
noticing how my fellows fared, and was specially

i 9 4 THE ADVENTURES OF

curious to see how the three or four watches whose
acquaintance I had chanced to make went off.

The common-looking watch with the unlucky ' Bob '
attached to its chain was knocked down for £3 5$.,
which, on the whole, was a triumph to the mortified
coin, for it is certain without him the lot would not
have fetched nearly so much, and his triumph was
further enhanced by the fact that the hunter with
whom he had had his altercation fetched only
£2 175. 6d. However, there was no time for jeers and
recriminations at present, we were all too deeply
absorbed in watching the fate of our fellows and
speculating on our own.

The compensation balance, keyless, air-tight, seven-
guinea grandee was the next to be put up, and the
first bid for him was £1 10,?.

' That I should have lived to hear that I ' I heard
the poor creature gasp.

1 And if he's a teetotaler,' I murmured, by way of
encouragement, ' that only means £1 85. 6<Z. I '

' Scoffer I be silent and leave me to my misery/ said
the keyless one, in a solemn tone.

The bidding improved considerably. He was run
up to £2, £2 105., £3, £3 10*., and finally to £4.

* Nothing more for this very magnificent watch ? '
said the auctioneer ; ' I positively cannot let him go
for a song/

No answer.

* I wish gentlemen would take the trouble to look
at it/ continued the persevering official ; * they could
not fail to see it was worth twice the money bid/

Still no answer.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 195

1 Did I understand you to bid four five, sir ? ' said
the auctioneer to an innocent-looking stripling near
the door. ' Thank you.'

The stripling, however, disclaimed the soft impeach-
ment, and looked very guilty as he did so.

' Well, there seems no help for it. I wish I were
down among you gentlemen. I'd take good care not
to lose this chance/

No answer.

' Then I must knock it down. Going, going, gone,
sir ; it's yours, and dirt cheap, too.'

All this was encouraging for me. If a seven-guinea
watch goes for four pounds, for how much will a
three-guinea one go ?

This was a problem which I feebly endeavoured to
eolve as I lay waiting my turn.

It came at last. I felt myself lifted on high, and
heard my merits pronounced in the words of the
catalogue.

'Lot 68. London made, lever, open-face . watch,
capped and jewelled, in very fine order.'

' Look for yourselves, gentlemen.'

The gentlemen did look for themselves, and com-
plimented me by a preliminary bid of 153. 1

The auctioneer laughed a pleasant laugh, as much
as to say, 'That is a capital joke/ and waited for
the next bid.

It was not long in coming, and I advanced rapidly
by half-crowns to thirty shillings. Here I made sure
I should stop, for this was the figure at which the

pawnbrob

But no ; such

are the vagaries of an auction, I went on still, up to

1 96 THE ADVENTURES OF

£2, and from that to £2 105. Surely there was some
mistake. I looked out to see who they were
who were thus bidding for me, and fancied I detected
in that scrutiny the secret of my unexpected value.
It was a countryman bidding — endeavouring in his
downright way to become my possessor, and wholly
unconscious of the array of Jews against him, who
bid him up from half-crown to half-crown until I had
nearly reached my original value.

* Three pounds,' at last said one of the Jews.

The countryman had evidently come to the end
of his tether, and did not answer the challenge.

' Three pounds/ said the auctioneer ; ' you're not
going to stop, sir ? '

The countryman said nothing.

'Try once more/ said the auctioneer; but the
rustic was silent.

' Three pounds ; no more ? Going, going '

' Guineas ! ' roared the countryman, at the last
moment.

* Thank you, sir ; I thought you were not going
to be beaten. Three guineas, gentlemen ; who says
more ? Nobody ? Going, then, to you, sir ; going,
going, gone !'

And so, once more, I changed masters.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 197

CHAPTER XIX

How, after much ceremony, I found myself in

the pocket of a genius.

MUGGERBRIDGE is a straggling, picturesque
little midland village, with one principal street,
an old church, a market-place, and a pound. Its popu-
lation, all told, does not number a thousand, the
majority of whom are engaged in agriculture ; its
houses are for the most part old-fashioned and poor,
though clean ; and altogether its general character and
appearance combine to proclaim the village an unpre-
tending English hamlet, with nothing whatever but
its name to distinguish it from a hundred others like it.

It was here I found myself duly installed in the
window of the village jeweller's — held out as a bait to
the purses of Muggerbridge. The countryman who
had purchased me was a big enough man in his own
place, though very little had been made of him in the
' Central Mart.' He was jew T eller, silversmith, church-
warden, postmaster, and special Muggerbridge corre-
spondent to the London Thunderbolt all in one here,
and appeared to be aware of his accumulated dignities I

It was his custom twice a year to visit London for

198 THE ADVENTURES OF

the purpose of replenishing his stock. It wa8 the
common talk of the place that he always returned
from such expeditions with prodigies of bargains,
which went far to encourage the popular tradition as
to the prodigal wealth of the metropolis. People who
knew him in town, on the other hand, always laughed
at him, and were unkind enough to hint that he never
by any chance bought an article at less than its full
price, and often paid an extremely fanciful ransom for
his purchases.

The churchwarden and postmaster of Muggerbridge
would have been very indignant had such an insinua-
tion ever reached his ears. It never did, happily, and
the worthy man was consequently always well satisfied
with his purchases \ which — whatever he gave for
them — he always contrived to sell at a very respectable
profit.

It was with a view to this profit that I found myself
looking out of Mr. Argent's window, in the High
Street of Muggerbridge, with a ticket round my neck,
conveying the (to me) very gratifying information
that * this Buperb watch was to be disposed of for the
moderate amount of £4 10s. only/ and a parenthesis
below further indulged my vanity by volunteering the
information that I was worth £6. It did occur to me
to wonder why, if I was worth £6, Mr. Argent should
be such a donkey as to sell me for only three-quarters
of that sum. Either he was a very benevolent man,
or he was in immediate want of £4 10s., or he had
his doubts as to my alleged value. I somehow
fancied the last was the true reason, and was half
afraid he was right too.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 199

Well, I looked out of Mr. Argent's windows for
two months, and by that time became acquainted

with nearly all the inhabitants of Muggerbridge.
On my first arrival I was an object of a good deal of
curiosity and admiration, for any change in a country
shop window is an excitement, and when that change
takes the form of a £6 ' superb ' watch offered for
£4 10s., it was no wonder the honest Muggerbridgians
gaped in at me and read my label.

But in a very little time familiarity had bred con-
tempt, and I lay almost unheeded by the outside
world. The grocer opposite, with his triumphal
arch of jam-pots monopolised all the wonder, and
most of the admiration, and I had the mortification
of seeing passers turn their backs on me, and step
over the way to contemplate that vulgar structure.

I had, however, one or two constant admirers.
One of these was a youth, scarcely more than a boy,
with a very pale, thoughtful face. He was poorly
dressed, but respectable. A book was generally
tucked under his arm, and very often I could 6ee his
lips moving, as if repeating something to himself.
He paid me more attention than anybody. Every
time he passed the shop he halted and looked at me,
as I thought, wistfully, and usually appeared relieved
to find me still in my place.

c George Reader's took a fancy to the new watch, I
can see,' I heard Mr. Argent say one day to his wife.

He 6poke, let me observe, in a very broad country
dialect, which I do not feel equal to reproducing

here.

' Poor lad I ' said Mrs. Argent ; ' I dare say he'd

200 THE ADVENTURES OF

like to have it in his pocket when he goes to college/

' He is going, then ? '

' Yes, for certain ; the clergyman says it would be
a sin for a boy of his cleverness not to go, and so I
think.'

' Well, learning's a great thing ; and when a game-
keeper's son does take a fit of it, I suppose it's all
right to humour it. But you and I, wife, can get on
very well without it. 5

( Speak for yourself,' retorted Mrs. Argent ; * I
wish you had half as much in your head as that
boy has got, that's all ! '

' And I suppose you wish you'd got the other half,
eh ? Stuff 1 '

And after this little till the worthy couple were
silent for a while. Presently Mrs. Argent again
spoke. ' I wonder what they'll do about the church
organ when George's gone ? '

* Ah ! you may say so,' said the husband, with a
touch of importance in his voice which became a

churchwarden when speaking of church matters ;
1 it'll be hard to fill his place there.'

* So it will. Did you stay after the service on
Sunday ? '

1 No ; you know I had to go round to the curate's.

Why?'

1 Just because if you'd heard him play you'd have

been glued to your chair, as I was. It was beautiful.

I couldn't have got up from that chair if I'd tried.'.

* Good job you didn't try, if you were glued down,
especially in your Sunday gown. I shouldn't care to
have to buy many of them a month.'

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 201

1 Now, John, you know I've not had a new gown for
nearly a year.'

And then the talk took a departure over a range of
topics to which I need not drag my unoffending reader.
This short conversation sufficed to satisfy my curiosity
in part as to the boy who was paying me such constant
attention ; and another event which shortly happened
served to bring me into still closer acquaintance with
George Reader. One day there entered the shop a
party consisting of half a dozen persons. One of
them was a young man in the dress of a clergyman,
and the others I knew well by sight as respectable
and respected villagers.

' Good morning, Mr. Argent/ said the curate, for
the clerical gentleman was none other ; ' we've come
to see you on a little matter of business.'

* Hope there's nothing wrong with the heating stoves
in the church, sir/ said Mr. Argent, with an anxious
face, ( I was always against them being used at all/

1 The stoves are quite well, I believe/ said the
curate, smiling ; ' our business is of quite a different
kind. We've come to make a purchase, in fact/

Mr. Argent's face brightened considerably, partly
at the assurance as to the salubrity of the gas-stoves
and partly at the prospect of business.

" What can I do for you, sir ? ' he said, no longer
with his churchwarden's voice, but as the Mugger-
bridge silversmith.

1 Well, we have been asked to select a small present
to be given by the choir and congregation of our
church to George Reader, who, I suppose you know,
is going next week to college/

202 THE ADVENTURES OF

' I have heard tell of it, sir,' said Mr. Argent, * and
my wife and I were only wondering the other day
what was to become of the music at the church when
he's gone/

1 We don't like to think of it/ said one of the party.

* It would want a good one to take his place/ said
another.

' We shall all miss him/ said the curate ; ' and we
are anxious before he leaves us to present him with
some little token of our regard. We have kept the
thing from you, Mr. Argent, as of course we should
have to come to you to procure whatever we decided
on getting, so your contribution to the gift will have
to be some good advice on the matter we are still
undecided about — what to get/

' I shall be very glad to help — have you decided
■I mean — has anything been said — that is

about what *

1 About how much ? Well, we have nearly four
pounds — in fact, we might call it four. What have
you about that price that would be suitable ? '

Oh I how my heart fluttered, for I could guess by
this time what was coming.

Mr. Argent looked profound for a minute, and
then said, ' There's one thing, I think, would do/

' What ? ' asked the deputation.

He pulled me out of the window and laid me on
the counter.

c A watch I Dear me I we thought of all sorts of
things, but not once of that 1 '

' It would be a suitable present/ said one of the
party ; ' but this one is £4 10*/

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 203

' That needn't matter/ eaid Mr. Argent ; f if you
like it my wife and I will settle about the difference.'

' That's very kind of you, Mr. Argent. Does any
one know if George has a watch ? '

s I know he hasn't/ 6aid one of the party, ' And
what's more, I've heard him say he wishes he had one/

* And I can answer for it he's been looking in at
my window at this very one every day for the last
month/ said the silversmith.

' Well, what do you say to getting this, then ?
We needn't ask you if it's a good one, Mr. Argent.*

* No, you needn't, sir/ replied the smiling Mr.
Argent, who, as I had remained run down since the
day he bought me, could not well have answered
the question more definitely.

' You'll clean it up, will you, and set it going,
and send it to me this afternoon ? ' said the curate ;
' and perhaps you would like to come with us to
Reader's cottage this evening, when we are going
to present it ? *

Mr. Argent promised to form one of the party,
and the deputation then left.

I was swiftly subjected to all the cleaning and
polishing which brushes, wash-leather, and whiting
could give me. I was wound up and set to the right
time, and a neat piece of black watered ribbon was
attached to my neck, and then I waited patiently
till the time came for my presentation to my new
master.

The gamekeeper's cottage to which I was conducted
in state that evening was not an imposing habitation.
Ifc boasted of onlv three rooms, and just as many

204 THE ADVENTURES OF

occupants. George, the hero of the occasion, was the
son of its humble owner and his wife, and, as will
have been gathered, had turned out a prodigy. From
his earliest days he had displayed a remarkable apti-
tude for study. Having once learned to read at the
village school, he became insatiable after books, and
devoured all that came within his reach.

Happily he fell into the hands of a wise and able
guide, the clergyman of the parish, who, early recog-
nizing the cleverness of the boy, strove to turn his
thirst for learning into profitable channels, lent him
books, explained to him what he failed to understand,
incited him to thoroughness, and generally constituted
himself his kind and helpful adviser.

The consequence of this timely tuition had been
that George had grown up, not a boisterous, over-
bearing prig, showing off his learning at every avail-
able chance, and making himself detestable, and
everybody else miserable, by his conceited air, but a
modest, quiet scholar, with plenty of hidden fire and
ambition, and not presuming on his talents to scorn
his humble origin, or be ashamed of his home and
parents — on the contrary, connecting them with all
his dearest hopes of success and advancement in the

world.

They, good souls, were quite bewildered by the
sudden blaze of their son's celebrity. They hardly
seemed to understand what it all meant, but had a
vague sort of idea that they were implicated in
* Garge's ' achievements. They would sit and listen
to him as he read to them, as if they were at an
exhibition at which they had paid for admission, and

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 205

it is not too much to say * Garge ' was, in their eyes,
almost as dreadful a personage as the lord of the
manor himself.

Among his fellow- villagers George was, as the reader
will have gathered, somewhat of a hero, and not a little
of a favourite. This distinction he owed to a talent
for music, which had at a very early age displayed
itself, and had been heartily encouraged by the
rector. In this pursuit, which he followed as his only
recreation, he had made such progress that, while yet
a boy, he became voluntary organist at the church,
and as such had won the hearts of the neighbours ,
They didn't know much about music, but they knew
the organ sounded beautiful on Sundays, and that
' Garge ' played it. And so it was a real trouble to
them now that he was about to leave Mugger bridge.

You may imagine the state of excitement into
which this unexpected visit threw simple Mr. and
Mrs. Reader. The good lady was too much taken
aback even to offer her customary welcome, and as
for the gamekeeper, he sat stock still in his chair,
with his eyes on his son, like a hound that waits the
signal for action.

' We are rather an invasion, I'm afraid/ said the
curate, squeezing himself into the little kitchen between
a clothes-horse and a dresser.

1 Not at all/ said George, looking very bewildered.

1 Perhaps you'll wonder why we've come ? ' added
the curate, turning to the gamekeeper.

Maybe you've missed something, and thinks one of
us has got it/ was the cheerful suggestion.

The curate laughed, and the deputation laughed,

206 THE ADVENTURES OF

and George laughed, and George's mother laughed,
which made things much easier for all parties.

'No, we haven't missed anything, Mr. Reader,'
replied the curate, ' but we expect to miss somebody-
George, and that is the reason of our visit.'

And then the curate explained what the business
was, and one of the churchwardens made a speech
(the composition of which had kept him awake all the
previous night), and then I was produced and handed
over. And George blushed and stammered out some-
thing which nobody could understand, and George's
mother began to cry, and George's father, unable
otherwise to express his sense of the occasion, began
to whistle. And so the little business was satis-
factorily concluded, and the deputation withdrew,
leaving me in the pocket of a new master.

Three

afterwards

Cambridge,

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 207

CHAPTER XX

How my new master made trial of a pursuit of

knowledge under difficulties.

UT now let us follow Reader. My master's rooms
at St. George's College were of the poorest
and meanest description ; in fact it would not
be too much to describe them — the bedroom and
etudy — as being like a pair of big cupboards under a
great staircase. They looked out on nothing more
picturesque than a blank wall. They were carpeted
with nothing better than an old drugget ; and as for
paper, the place would have looked better simply
whitewashed. They were suffocating in summer and
draughty in winter, and at nights afforded rendezvous
to a whole colony of rats. Every step on the staircase
above thundered down into the study ; the loosely-
hung windows rattled even in a light breeze, and the
flavours of the college dustbins, hard by, appeared to
have selected these chambers, above all others, for
their favourite haunt. I am told St. George's College
has recently undergone renovation, Ir so, it is pro-
bable ' the Mouse-trap ' — for this was the designation
by which George Reader's classical domain was

2o8 THE ADVENTURES OF

familiarly styled — has disappeared. Let us hope so,
for a more miserable, uncomfortable, and uninviting
couple of rooms I never saw.

But they had one merit, and that a great one :
they were cheap, which to George Reader meant
everything, He had gained a small entrance scholar-
ship, by the help of which he hoped, with the most
rigid economy, to support himself during his college
career. Most other young fellows would have shrunk
from the prospect, but such was my master's ambition
that I believe he would have endured life in a stable
if only he could have there enjoyed the advantages
and encouragements of a college course.

It was, at any rate, a fine sight to see him settle
down in his new dispiriting quarters, determined to
make the best of everything, and suffer nothing to
damp his ardour for work. He unpacked his few
precious books and laid them on the shelf ; he hung
up the likenesses of his father and mother over the
chimney-piece ; he produced the cheese which the
latter had insisted on his bringing with him, and, as
a crowning-effect, set me up on the mantel-shelf with
as much pride as if I had been a marble clock.

' That looks something like ! ' he said to himself.
' Now for a little tea, and then — grind ! '

The little tea, however, was * sooner said than
done.' It involved a prolonged hunt for the * gyp/
or attendant, and a still more prolonged conference
on the subject of hot water, tea, and bread. The
suggestions thrown out by the college official, too,
were so very lordly and extravagant — such, for
instance, as ham and eggs, chicken, marmalade, and

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 209

chocolate — that poor George's heart fluttered as much
ag his mouth watered while he listened. Chicken
and chocolate for a poor student who had barely
enough money to afford so much as the luxury of
living in the * Mouse-trap ' of St. George's I Well he
might be scared at the idea ! He politely declined
the grand offer of his scout, and asking him to light
a small fire and procure him a loaf, sallied out him-
self into the town and purchased a small and very
cheap quantity of groceries. With these he returned
in triumph to his rooms, and, with the utmost satis-
faction, partook of his first college meal, with a Euclid
open on the table beside him.

Then pouring out a final cup of tea to enjoy, coldj
later on, he ' cleared the decks for action,' as he called
it, which meant putting away the tea, butter, sugar,
and bread in a cupboard, and folding up the table-
cloth. Poor George ! he had no false pride to forbid
such menial offices ; he had not the brag about him
which would have led another to stand on the stair-
case and howl ' Gyp ' till every one far and near should
be made aware that he had had a meal which
required clearing away. No 5 he was only a game-
keeper's son. in a hurry to get at his books ; and to
him it was far more natural to wait on hi3 own frugal
table than sit in state till a servant should come and
clear it.

* Now/ said he to himself, ' I shall get a good quiet
time for work. After all it's not bad to be one's own
master where reading is concerned.'

And without more ado he set himself down to hia
books, with me on the table at his elbow, and his cup

2io THE ADVENTURES OF

of tea within reach, when such refreshment should be
desirable. It was a fine thing to see this young fellow
plunging straight into his work.

Assuredly he had not come to college to fritter
away his time — to row, play cricket, give wine-parties,
or drive dog-carts ; he had not even come because it
was ' the thing/ or afforded a ' good introduction into
the world.' No, he was here for one purpose, and one
alone. That was work. To him the days were as
precious mines, and every minute a nugget. It
mattered nothing to him who won the cricket-match
this year, who occupied the rooms next his, how
many bumps the St. George's boat made on the river ;
far more important was the thought that perhaps the
oil in his lamp would run short before the night was
out, or whether the edition of Plato his friend the
Muggerbridge clergyman had given him was the best,

and contained the fullest notes. In short, George
Reader was in earnest.

But, like the tea, the * good quiet time ' he hoped
for was not bo easy to secure. Scarcely had he
settled down when the voices of two men in loud
conversation rose, immediately under his window.
Now, when one is in the agony of trying to under-
stand how it comes that a certain number of angles
in one figure are equal to a certain number of angles
in another, it is, to say the least of it, confusing to

have to listen to a spirited account of a boxing-match
between Jack Straight and the Hon. Wilfred Dodge ;
and when that account manages to get interwoven
inextricably with the problem in hand the effect is
likely to be distracting ; for instance :

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 211

* Since the solid angle at b is contained by-
three plane angles, b a f, f a c, and a b (
then '

1 Jack let out and got in sweetly under his man's
guard/ and so on,

1 Therefore/ persevered George, ' the angles a b c
and a b f '

' Hounded on him grandly, and '

' The angles a b and a b f are together greater

than the angle b f ; and, similarly '

Here the conversation was continued in language
far more worthy of the disgraceful prize-ring than a
college, until George could bear it no longer. He
leapt from his seat and sprang to the window, which
he opened. Leaning out, he surveyed the two dis-
turbers of his peace with very little affection, but
controlled himself sufficiently to say politely,

' Would you mind not talking just here ? I'm
reading.'

One of the two scowled up at him, and replied,
' What business is it of yours where we talk ? '
' Come on, Fisher/ said the other, taking his arm ;
* let the man read if he wants ; I suppose that's the
poor beggar who's come to the l( trap." '

1 He's got a cool cheek of his own, whoever he is/
retorted the indignant Fisher.

George was too relieved to be rid of their clatter
under his window to trouble himself as to their
sentiments towards himself, and he therefore once
again settled down to work.

But now a new interruption occurred.

There arose a sudden rush of feet outside his door,

2i2 THE ADVENTURES OF

a laughing and a cheering, in the midst of which hs

caught the following confused utterances :

1 George's has bumped Corpus I ' * cried a voice,

' Hurrah 1 ' yelled half a dozen voices.

' It was the finest bit of rowing ever you saw/

continued the first speaker. ' Bailey put it on from

the very first stroke, and was on the top of them

before the Point.'

And then the three cheers and yells rose again.

1 You can fancy how black and blue Corpus looked

it's the biggest sell they've had for a long

time/

Once more the shouts.

' And what do you think % ' resumed the first
speaker. ' Old Bailey vows he won't come to the
supper to-night. Did ever you hear of such an old
bear ? '

1 He'll have to come/ cried the rest ; * let's waylay
him here and carry him off.'

* All serene/ said the leader ; ' he's sure to come
here — let's hang about on the stairs/

Oh, horrors I here were six noisy men going to
establish themselves on the stairs over poor George's
head, and remain there until their victim arrived,
when, unless college traditions were utterly false,
there would certainly be a battle royal. It was im-
possible, with the cheering and stamping and shouting
and laughing, and scuffling overhead, to do a stroke

1 At the college races at Cambridge the boats start ono
behind the other at fixer 1 distances, and any boat overtaking
and ' bumping ' the one in front of it moves up a place
nearer to the 'head of the river.'

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 213

of work, and yet George did his best. He pulled his
table into the corner of the room farthest away
from the noise, and, burying his head in his hands,
struggled desperately to abstract himself from tha
disturbance. But as sure as he succeeded for a
minute, a clamour louder than ever would drive every
idea out of his head. It was vain to attempt ex-
postulation — what would these jubilant revellers care
for a poor new man like him 1 — and he had nowhere
else to go to escape them ; there was nothing for it
but to be patient. In due time the victorious and
unsuspecting Bailey, accompanied by four of his
friends, appeared on the scene, and their approaoh
was the immediate signal for action. With a cheer
and a howl the ambush sprang upon their victims ;
and, with equal vehemence, these, having rapidly
taken in the state of affairs, prepared to defend them-
selves. Poor George might as well have been sitting
under Niagara. Step by step, the new-comers strove
to force a passage up to Bailey's rooms, and step by
step the opposing force strove to repulse them. The
balustrades creaked, the ceiling of George's room
quaked, and the walls thundered with the weight of
conflicting bodies. The occupants of every room on
the staircase turned out to see the fun, and on hearing
of Bailey's contumacy, joined with his persecutors in
refusing him the shelter of his own sanctuary. Bailey's
party, on the other hand, was joined by reinforce-
ments from without, who stormed up the stairs with
the noise of an earthquake. The opposing forces
soon became so great that the press of battle raged
even to the door of George's study, which creaked

214 THE ADVENTURES OF

and rattled as if every moment it were about to yield
and admit the whole tide of conflict.

For half an hour the tumult roared and the
battle swayed, and neither party gained nor yielded
a foot.

Then suddenly from the confines of the battle
rose and spread a cry of ' Cave canem 1 ' on which, as
if by magic, the action was suspended, and retreating
footsteps betokened a panic. A rally was sounded by
Bailey's foes, but too late ; the hero of the day had
taken advantage of the momentary pause to dash
past his persecutors and gain his study, and once
there no force could dislodge him. The vanquished
ones stormed and raged outside his door for another

ten minutes, threatening all sorts of vengeance ; then
with three mighty cheers they struck camp and retired,

leaving the staircase in peace.

Thus ended the famous battle of Bailey's Stair-
case, at the end of which George, with sunken
Bpirits but indomitable resolution, sat down again
to work.

For half an hour he made good progress, without
let or hindrance, when — ah, cruel fate ! — a wretch
calling himself a man, in a neighbouring apartment,
began to practise on the ophicleide 1 At the first note
George bounded from his seat as if he had been shot,
and literally tore his hair. This was worse than all
that had gone before. To one of his musical in-
spiration, the human voice divine in conversation was.
endurable, and the roar of battle might even be
tolerable, but to hear a creature attempt to play one
of the ' songs without words ' on an instrument he

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 215

knew as little of as the music he was parodying, was
beyond all bearing ! Then, if ever, did my wretched
master dig his fingers into his ears, and writhe and
shiver and groan at each discord produced by that
inhuman performer. He retreated into the innermost
recess of his bedroom ; he even hid his unhappy head
beneath the clothes, if haply he might escape the
agony of this torture. But it was hopeless. The
shrieks and groans of that brutal ophicleide would
have penetrated the walls of the Tower of London.
It lasted, I should not like to say how long ; and
when it was over, the recollection of its horrors was
almost as bad as their endurance. When George
set himself again to work, it was with nerves
unstrung and unutterable forebodings, yet still

unconquered.

' At any rate,' said he to himself, with a sigh, c there
can't be anything worse than that — unless, indeed, he
invites a friend like himself to practise duets with
him ! ''

Happily this climax was not reached, and for one
evening the worst of George Reader's persecutions
had been suffered — but not the last.

By the time the last wail of the ophicleide had
wriggled away into silence it was getting late, and
the college was meditating retirement to rest. This
operation was not got through, as may be imagined,
without a good deal of clamour and a good deal of
scuffling on the staircase, and a good deal of dialogue
outside the window ; but in due time silence reigned,
and George congratulated himself that he had a quiet
time at last before him.

216 THE ADVENTURES OF

Unlucky boast 1 Not an hour had passed, the
lights in the windows round the courtyard had
vanished, the distant shouts had ceased, and the
footsteps on the pavement without had died away,
when George was startled by a sound that seemed
like the boring of a hole under his fireplace. The
noise grew, and other similar noises rose in
different parts. What was it ? Surely the gay
students of St. George's were not about to effect
an amateur burglary on the friendless owner of the
* Mouse-trap ? *

Nearer and nearer came the sounds, and George's
heart beat loud. He closed his book and pushed his
chair back from the table, ready to defend himself, on
an emergency, to the bitter end. Then, under the
hearth, there was a sound of scraping and grating,
then a rushing noise, and then George saw — two
enormous rats !

Loud and long laughed my master to himself at
the discovery. What cared he for rats ? He pulled
his chair back to the table, and buried himself in his
book for the next three hours, until his lamp began
to burn low, and the letters on the pages grew blurred
and dim, and the rats had scuffled back by the way
they came, and my flagging hands pointed to four
o'clock.

Then George Reader, after kneeling in silent prayer,

went to bed.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 21?

CHAPTER XXI

How my master fared at St. George's College and
met an old acquaintance of the reader's there.

T is not my intention in these pages to give a full
and particular account of George Reader's college
life. It would neither be on the whole interesting,
nor would it be found to have much bearing on my
own career, which is the ostensible theme of the
present veracious history.

Stories of college life have furnished amusing
material for many a book before now, to which the
reader must turn, should his curiosity in that direction

r

require to be satisfied. The life of a hard — a too
hard-working student in his cell under the college
staircase is neither amusing nor sensational, and it is
quite enough to say that, after his first eventful
evening, George Reader pursued his studies with
unflagging ardour, though with greater precaution
than ever.

He soon discovered which hours of the day and
night were most favourable for uninterrupted work,
He made a point of taking his constitutional during
the hour made hideous by the ill-starred aspirant on

ai8 THE ADVENTURES OF

the ophicleide. He invested in a trap for the rats,
which, with the aid of his mother's cheese, yielded him
a nightly harvest of victims, and he arranged with
Benson, the ' gyp,' not to interrupt him, preferring
rather to wait on himself — nay, even to dust out his
own room — than have to sacrifice precious time while
the same offices were being performed by another,
especially by such an overpowering and awe-inspiring
person as Benson.

So he set himself to work, attending lectures by
day, reading every night into the small hours, spending
scarcely any thing, shrinking from all acquaintanceships,
taking only a minimum of recreation, and living almost
the life of a hermit, until I could see his cheeks grow
pale, and his eyes dark round the rims, and feared for
his health.

He treated me uniformly well. Of course, as the
gift of his fellow-villagers, he prized me highly, but
by no means consigned me to the Btately repose of a
purely ornamental treasure. I lay nightly beside his
elbow on the table, and counted for him the hours as
they sped from night to morning. I lay beneath his
pillow at night, and helped him to rise betimes. I
insured his punctual attendance at lectures, and drove
him home from his scanty walks in the fresh air more
quickly than I myself would have cared to do if I
eould have helped it. In short, I found myself in the
satisfactory position of one thoroughly useful in his
sphere of life, and on the whole, though my first young
master returned constantly to my thoughts, I contrived
to be very happy in my new capacity.

Two events, however, both of a pleasant nature,

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 219

served to vary the monotony of George's second term
at college. The first of these was a visit from hi3
friend and patron, Dr. Wilkins, the rector of
Muggerbridge.

George was sitting at his modest breakfast one
morning, when his door suddenly opened, and the
well-known and beloved face of his old tutor lit up
the apartment.

My master sprang to his feet, and with unaffected
joy rushed forward to welcome his guest, before it had
so much as occurred to him into what uninviting
quarters he was receiving him.

* How good of you to come, sir I ' he cried. ' I never
expected such happiness.'

* You don't suppose I should go through Cambridge

and never beat up your quarters, my boy ? But, dear

me, how ill you are looking 1 '
'Amll I don't feel ill/

* Humph ! you're overdoing it. But aren't you
going to offer me some breakfast ? '

George coloured, and his spirits sank as his eyee
fell on the scanty fare of which he himself had been
partaking.

1 It's only bread-and-butter/ he said.

* And what better ? ' said Dr. Wilkins, sitting down j
' and I warrant the butter's good if it's your mother's
making/

* So it is/ said George, beginning to recover hi*
spirits. ' And how did you leave them at home,
sir?'

1 First-rate, my boy ; looking much better than you
are. And so this is your den ? Well, it's J

20 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Nothing very grand/ put in George.

t T"!

Exactly, nothing very grand ; but I dare say you
find it as good a place to read in as a drawing-room,
eh ? Now tell me all about yourself, my boy, while I
drink this good tea of yours.'

And George, with light heart and beaming face, told
his good friend of all his doings, his hardships, his
difficulties, his triumphs, and his ambitions.

And Dr. Wilkins sat and listened with pride and
thankfulness at heart, to find his young protege the
same earnest, unaffected boy he had parted with from
Muggerbridge six months before. They talked for a
long time that morning . The tutor and boy passed
in review all the work hitherto accomplished and
discussed the programme of future study. Many
were the wholesome counsels the elder gave to the
younger, and many were the new hopes and resolutions
which filled the lad's heart as he opened all his soul
to his good friend.

' And now,' said Dr. Wilkins, * I want you to take
me to see your college and chapel.'

George looked perplexed. Who was he to conduct
a Doctor of Divinity over his college. Such a hermit's
life had he led that he hardly knew the ins and outs
of the place himself, and there was not a single man
in the college to whom he was not a stranger.

1 I'm afraid you've chosen a bad guide,' faltered he.

' I don't know any of the men, and very little of the

place.'

' Oh, never mind that,' said the doctor ; ' it will be

all the more interesting to make a tour of discovery,

so come along ! '

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 221

George put on his cap and gown and obeyed. For
a moment he wished the gown had been long enough
to conceal the patch on the knee of his trousers, but
the next he laughed at himself for his vanity.

* There's nothing to be ashamed of/ thought he,
* and if it is patched — well, it is.'

And thus consoling himself, he accompanied the
doctor across the quadrangle.

Men certainly did stare at him as he passed, and
some of them deemed him a queer ' specimen/ and
others wondered what St. George's was coming to.
But my master, if he noticed their looks, disregarded
them, and as for Dr. Wilkins, he smiled to himself to
think how prone mankind is to judge by appearances.

' Unless I mistake/ mused he to hiiusolf, ' these
young sparks of St. George's will some day think fit
to be proud of their poor fellow-collegian.'

The two made the tour of the college, and finished
up with the grand old Gothic chapel. It was easy to
guess why George's face lit up as he approached the
place. The deep notes of an organ were sounding
across the quadrangle, and as they entered the door a
Hood of harmony swept towards them down the long
aisles. Dr. Wilkins could feel the boy's arm tremble,
and heard the sigh of delight which escaped his lips.
Without a word they eat in the nearest stalls, and
listened while the music went on. How it rose and
fell, how it trembled in the oak arches of the roof, and
jwept through the choir down to Avhere they sat 1 It
was only an ordinary organist's practice ; but to
George, after his hard work, and with the memories
of home revived by the presence of his dear tutor, it

K

TT

222 THE ADVENTURES OF

came as a breath from heaven. Daily, nearly, had he
heard that organ since his coming to Cambridge, but
never had it delighted him as it did now.

' Can we Bee the organ ? ' he said, when the last
chord had died away.

" Let us try/ said the doctor.

The gallery door was open, and ascending the
stairs to the organ loft, they found the organist
preparing to depart.

' We have been a clandestine audience,' said the
doctor, ' and couldn't help coming to thank you for
the treat you have given us. My young friend here is
music mad/

The organist smiled.

1 You took me at a disadvantage/ he said, ' I was
only amusing myself/

' Whatever you were doing for yourself, you de-
lighted us/ said the doctor.

1 Would you like to try the organ ? ' presently said
the organist to George.

Oh, what a bound of delight I could feel in my
master's breast at the invitation.

* May I ? ' he exclaimed.

1 Certainly, if you like — and if you can/ added the
other, hesitatingly, as if not sure whether the lad's
skill would be equal to his enthusiasm.

George sat down on the bench, and laid hi3 fingers
lovingly on the keys. But he withdrew them before
he had sounded a note. ' I would rather you did not
watch rne too closely/ he said, nervously, ' fos I am
only a beginner/

1 Let us go and sit down stairs/ suggested the doctor.

A THREE GUINEA WATGH 223

The organist looked still more doubtful than
before, and began to repent his offer. However,
he retired with the doctor, and made up his mind
to be excruciated. They sat down in two of the
stalls and waited.

And then George began to play. What ho played
I cannot tell. It began first in a faint whisper o?
music which swelled onward into a pure choral
melody. Then suddenly the grand old roof trembled
with the clash of a martial movement, strong and
steady, which carried the listener onward till he wag,
with the sound, lost in the far distance. Then, in
wailing minor numbers the music returned, slowly
working itself up into the tumult and fury of a
pent-up agony, and finally sweeping all before it

in a wild hurricane of bitterness. Then a pause,
and then sweetly and in the far distance once
more rose the quiet hymn, and after that all was
silence.

After the first few notes the organist had uttered a
startled ejaculation, and drawn the doctor to another
seat farther down the navo, where, till all was over s
he sat motionless aa a statue. But the moment the
musio had ceased he ran up the stairs with a faco
full of pleasure and admiration, and actually seized

George by the hand.

* You're a genius, sir. That was not at all bad, I

can tell you.'

A happ} 7 smile was ail the answer George could
give.

' Not at all bad/ repeated the organist, ' I was
telling your friend,' added he to Dr. Wilkins, who

224 THE ADVENTURES OF

had returned more slowly to the organ, ' that was
not at all bad. He must come here often.*

1 Nothing, I am sure, would'delight him more/ said
the doctor. * Eh, my boy ? '

1 Nothing, indeed,' said George, ' but — ■ — ■'

' But your reading, I suppose.'

' Never mind your reading, sir ! ' exclaimed the
organist. ' What's that to music ? Take my advice,
and go in for music/

Poor George ! for a moment he felt tempted to
abandon all his ambitions and resolutions at the
prospect of a career so delightful and congenial.
But he was made of firmer stuff than Tom Drift,
and replied,

_ _ _ l

' I cannot do that, sir ; but if I may come now and
then "

' Come whenever you like,' said the organist ; and
so saying he shook George and his friend by the hand,
and hurried from the chapel.

This was the event which of all others brightened
George Reader's first year at college.

Instead of aimless walks, he now stole at every
3 pare moment (without cutting into his ordinary
work) to the organ, and there revelled in music.
His acquaintance with the college organist increased
and developed into a friendship, of which mutual

admiration formed a large element, and one happy
Sunday, a year after his arrival at Cambridge, he
received, for the first time, the much coveted per-
mission to preside at the organ during a college service,
a task of which he acquitted himself so well — nay,
so remarkably well — that not only did he frequently

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 225

find himself again in the same position, but his playing
came to be a matter of remark among the musical
Bet of St. George's.

1 Who is the fellow who played to-day ? ' a man
inquired one day of the organist ; ' is he a pupil of
yours ? '

* No. I might be a pupil of his in some things.
He's a boy, and, mark my words, if he goes on as he's
begun he'll be heard of some day.'

' What's his name, do you know ? ' inquired the
Youth.

'I don't even know that, I never Here he

comes

l

* Introduce me, will you ? '

' With pleasure. Allow me to "introduce Mr.
Halliday,' said the organist to George.

Halliday I Wasn't that a familiar name to me ?
Was it possible? This fine fellow, then, was no other
than Jim Halliday, whom I had last seen as a boy on
the steps of Randlebury, with his chum Charlie
Newcome, waving farewell to Tom Drift.

Ah, how my heart beat at being thus once more
brought back into the light of those happy days by
this unexpected meeting !

My master by no means shared my delight at the
incident. He had always shrunk from acquaintance-
ships among his fellow-collegians. With none, hither-
to, but the organist had he become familiar, and that
only by virtue of an irresistible common interest. His
poverty and humble station forbade him to intrude
his fellowship on the clannish gentry of St. George'e,

and certainly his cravings for hard study led him, e»

226 THE ADVENTURES OF

far from considering the exclusion aa a hardship, to
look upon it as a mercy, and few things he desired
more devoutly than that this satisfactory state of
affairs might continue.

I do not say George was right in this. Sociability
is, to a certain extent, a duty, and one that ought not
without the soundest reason to be shirked. George
may have carried his reserve rather too far, biit at
any rate you will allow he erred on the right side, if

he erred at all, and carried his purpose through with
more honesty and success than poor Tom Drift had
displayed in a very similar situation.

Now, however, his hermitage was in peril of a siege,
and he quailed as he acknowledged the introduction
offered him.

' How are you ? ' said Halliday, with all his own
downrightness. ' I and a lot of fellows have liked

cm

bo. How are you ? '

1 I'm quite well, thank you,' faltered George.

( You're a freshman, I suppose ? * asked Jim.

' No, I'm in my second year.'

1 Are you ? I thought I knew all the men in ths
college ; but perhaps you live in the town ? '

' No, I live in college. 1

c Where are your rooms ? ' asked the astonished Jim.

* In, or rather under, H staircase,' replied George,
* Perhaps you would know the place best as the
" Mouse-trap." '

Jim could not resist a whistle of surprise and a
rapid scrutiny of his new acquaintance.

' The " Mouse-trap " I That's an awful hole, isn't it 1 '

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 227

1 Yea,' said George, his candour coming to his rescue
to deliver him from this cross-examination, ' but it's
cheap '

Jim looked as afflicted as if he had been seized with
a sudden toothache.

What

Please excuse

my rudeness ; I never meant to annoy you.'

' You have not done so. You are not the sort of

man I should mind knowing I was poor - ,

( Of course not ; so am I poor ; but don't let's talk

ol that. Will you come to my rooms 1 '
George hesitated, and then answered,
' I'd rather not, please. I'm reading hard, and,

besides '

1 Besides what ? '

1 I've no right to expect you to associate with me/

* Why ever not 1 '

* I may as well tell you straight out. My father is
% gamekeeper, and I am a gamekeeper's son.'

Jim laughed pleasantly.

1 Well, really your logic is perfect, but I can't say
&-rj much for your sense. Bless you, man, aren't we
ali of us lineal descendants of a gardener ? Como
along ! '

* Please excuse me,' again faltered George ; ' you are
very kind, but your friends may not thank you for -'

1 My friends ! — oh, yus 1 ' blurted out Jim. ' What
on earth business have they to put their noses into
my affairs. Like their impudence, all of them ! '

Jim 5 you will see, was still a boy, though he had
whiskers.

' Don't blame them till they have offended. Any-

*ft-i

28 THE ADVENTURES OF

Low, Mr. HaUiday, please exouse me. I want to read,
and have made a rule never to go out.'

' Look here — what's your name ? * began Jim.

* Reader,' replied my master.

' Reader I Are you the fellow who's in for the
Wigram Scholarship ? ' cried Jim, in astonishment.

' Yes,' replied George ; * how did you know ? '

' Only that some of the fellows are backing you for
^ inner.'

George laughed. ' They'll be disappointed,' he said.

' I hope not/ said Jim, ' for if you get it you'll be
free of the college, and get into rather better quarters
than the " Mouse-trap." But look here, Reader, do
come to my rooms, there's a good fellow ; if you don't
want any friends, don't prevent my having one.'

This was irresistible, and George had nothing for
it but to yield, and with many misgivings to accompany
his new friend.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 229

CHAPTER XXII

How my master and I went out to breakfast,

and whom we met.

IM HALLIDAY — now a strapping youth of nine-
teen — was a good representative of the e steady
set ' at St. George's College. Indeed, as he was intend-
ing to become a clergyman in due time, it would have
been a deplorable thing if this had not been the case.
He worked hard, and though not a clever fellow, had
already taken a good position in the examination
lists of his college. He was also an ardent superin-
tendent at a certain ragged-school in the town con-
ducted by University men ; and was further becoming
a well-known figure in the debates at the Union
on all which accounts his friends were not a little
satisfied. But on one point Jim and his friends
did not hit it. Ever since his Randlebury days he
had kept up his passion for athletic sports, and if
he had now been famous for nothing else at his college,
he would at least have been noted as a good bat, a
famous boxer, a desperate man in a football scrimmage,
and a splendid oar. It was on this subject that
Jim and his relations were at variance. When I

2 3 o THE ADVENTURES OF

speak of ' relations ' I refer, by the way, to a certain
old-fashioned uncle and aunt in Cornwall, who since
Jim's father's death had assumed the guardianship of
that youth and his brothers and sisters. This good
uncle and aunt were horribly shocked that one destined
for so solemn a sphere in life as the ministry should
profane himself with athletic sports. The matter
formed the theme for many serious remonstrances,
and long letters addressed to the depraved Jim,
who, on his part, maintained his side of the argument
with characteristic vehemence. He actually spent
a whole day in the college library, making out a list
of all the athletic divines in history since the creation
of the world, the which he hurled triumphantly at his
good relations' heads as an unanswerable challenge.
But, however satisfactory it may have been to Jim,
it failed to convince them, and neither party being
disposed to give in, the feud in this particular had
become chronic.

All this Jim contrived to impart to George (for lack
of better conversation) in the course of a short walk
previous to the breakfast in his rooms, to which he
was leading his new acquaintance a captive.

* I suppose we shall have it all opened again now/
he remarked, ' for you may have seen that my name
is down to play in the football match against Sand-
hurst.'

' I never read the athletic intelligence in the papers/

said George.

' Well, my uncle and aunt do. The names were
actually printed in the Times, and I shall be greatly
surprised if I don't find a letter or telegram when I

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 231

get back to my rooms. We may aa well beat to
quarters, though, or the fellows will be waiting/

' You didn't tell me any one else was to be there/
said George reproachfully, suddenly stopping short.
* I can't come 1 '

f Stuff and nonsense,' said Jim ; ' they won't eat
you ! '

' Halliday,' said George, hurriedly, ' I'm much
obliged to you for asking me, but I have made a rule,
as I tell you, never to go out, and I've told you the
reason/

1 An utterly rubbishing reason ! ' put in Jim.

* I promised to come with you because I thought
there would be only us two ; but I really can't come
if there are more.'

' My dear fellow,' said Jim good-humouredly, ' any
one else would bo offended with you. Why, you're a
regular bear.'

kn

&^-» j.w,i..^

and looking very uncomfortable, ' and I don't want to
he that.'

' Of course you don't ; so come along. Why, my
dear fellow, one would think my friends were all ad
abandoned wretches as I ara, by the manner in whioh
you shrink from the notion of meeting them, but they

>L >

aren t.

' Do let me off,' put in George, in despair.
* Not a bit of it. But I tell you what, if you don't
like them or me '

* It's not that, you know, but I've no right to associ-

ate

* Associate with your grandmother I Come this

232 THE ADVENTURES OF

once, and I'll never ask you again unless you like,
there 1 '

' Who are the fellows ? ' asked George.

' Two of them are College men — very nice men, in
ray humble opinion ; and, now I come to think of it,
one of them, Clarke, is in against you for the " Wig-
ram,'* but every one ea} T s you're Bafe ; and the third
is an old particular school chum, who is playing in
Sandhurst team against us, and whom it is therefore
my interest to incapacitate by a howling breakfast/

George laughed.

* I wish you'd let him eat my share as well.'

* I dare say he would be equal to the occasion. New-
come was always a good trencherman.'

At the name I bounded nearly out of my master's

pocket. Kewcomo ! an old school chum of Jim
Ilalliday's, It must be my old master 1 And — yee

now I remembered, he had spoken in one of his letters
to Tom Drift of going to Sandhurst Military College.
It must be he. How I longed for my master to make
up his mind and go to the breakfast 1

( But I wouldn't have you miss seeing him/ said Jim,
1 for I'm no end proud of him ; and when you've once
Been him, you'll have seen the best fellow going. That
is/ added he, 'present company of course excepted/

' I'm sure he's a nice man/

1 Nice I Of course, and therefore fit company for
you and me ; so come along, old man. I never had
such hard work inviting a man to breakfast in all my

life/

4 I'm certain I'm ill-mannered/ said George, ' but
I won't hold out any more. You will '

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 233

' Hurrah, that's settled, and here we are, too ! '
With that he led the way up a staircase, on the
second floor of which he opened a door, and ushered
George into his rooms. No one was there yet, and
there was consequently time to look about. Jim's
rooms were nothing very grand, but they were pala-
tial compared with the * Mouse-trap.' Cheerful and
well-lighted, with a pleasant look-out into the old
quadrangle, comfortably furnished, further enlivened
with all those adornments in the shape of swords,
fencing-sticks, dumb-bells, etc., without which no

model undergraduate's rooms would be complete.
George could hardly help sighing as his thoughts
flew back to his own dingy cell under ' H ' staircase.

* Lay another plate, Smith/ said Jim, addressing his

( gyP ' '» ' an( * now > °ld man, make yourself comfort-
able.'

And then the host, in a business-like way, devoted
himself to the mysteries of coffee-making and egg-
boiling, in the midst of which occupation Clarke
and the other St. George's man arrived.

George felt very miserable on being introduced and

devoutly hoped the fellows would have sufficient to

converse about among themselves, without it being

needful for him to come under observation. This

reserve, however, he was not destined to maintain
for very long.

* Halliday/ said Clarke, * were you in chapel this
morning ? '

4 Yes/

1 Well, did you ever hear the organ so grandly
played ? 9

234 THE ADVENTURES OF

George blushed deeply, half with pleasure at this
genuine compliment, and half with nervousness at
the turn the talk was taking,

c And it wasn't the regular organist/ said Clarke's
friend, ' for I saw him downstairs.'

I No, it's some fellow — plough-boy or stable-boy ^
or somebody he's got hold of, so I heard. Whoeve?
he is, he knows how to play.'

At this point Jim was as red in the face as George,
and equally embarrassed.

' Is the fellow at college, do you know ? ' asked
Clarke's friend.

I I believe so, in fact '

1 In fact,' broke out Jim, in fear of further awkward-
ness, ' in fact the gentleman you are speaking of is
my friend here.'

If Clarke and his friend had suddenly been con-
fronted by a tribe of wild Indians they could not
have been more taken aback than they were at this
announcement. In fact, it was an awkward moment
for everybody. Nobody knew exactly what to say,
or which way to look. But a welcome interruption
arrived.

My heart beat suddenly as I heard at the bottom
of the stairs a sound. Some one was coming up two
steps at a time. Nearer and nearer the light feet
came, and my agitation told me whom they brought.
There was a rap at the door, a click on the latch, and
then, after all these years, I saw once more my dear
first master, Charlie Newcome. Little he guessed I
was so near him !

He had spent the previous day with Jim, and was

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 235

therefore no stranger in hia rooms ; indeed, from the
moment he entered them, he appeared as much at
home there as their own master. He greeted the
visitors pleasantly, and then, in the old Randlebury
style, demanded if breakfast was anywhere near ready,
as he was starving.

He had the beginnings of a fierce moustache, he
stood six feet high in his boots, and there was a look
of power about him which exceeded even the promise
of hia Randlebury days. Otherwise he was the same.
Ho had the same clear, honest eyes, the same frank
smile, the same merry laugh, for which every one had
loyed him then ; and as I looked at him and rejoiced,
I felt I would give the world to be back in my old place
in his pocket.

Jim, as he himself had said, was proud enough 01
his friend, and no wonder. Hia arrival, too, at the
instant when it occurred, was most opportune, and
made him a specially welcome addition to our party,
which, including my master, was very soon on the
best of terms round the hospitable Jim's table.

' It's not often/ said that worthy, ' one gets two
pairs of deadly enemies eating out of the same dish/

' What's the fellow talking about ? ' asked Charlie,
passing up his plate for more steak.

' Well/ said Jim, ' you and I are, or shall be, deadly
enemies to-day, old man.'

* Rather/ responded Charlie ; ' so much the worse
for you. But where'3 the other pair ? '

'Why, Clarke and Reader/

' I ? ' exclaimed Clarke, in an alarmed tone. * I hope
Mr. Reader and I are not at enmity ? '

236 THE ADVENTURES OF

* Oh, yes, you are; don't you know Reader's the
follow in against you for the '* Wigram " ? ' said
Jim.

Clarke was astonished. He had been told there
was another candidate for the scholarship, who in

some quarters was considered a formidable opponent,
but he had never fairly realized the fact till
now.

Tm very glad to meet you/ eaid he, courteously,
to George ; ' though I can hardly wish you as much
success in your exam, as I dare say you wish your-
self/

' I hope I shall not break my heart if I lose/ replied
George. ' Are we the only two in for it ? '

And then they fell to talking about their approaching
struggle) during which I gave heed to a hurried talk
between Charlie and Jim.

* Do you remember Tom Drift ? ' asked Jim.
Charlie's face at once became serious as he replied,

* How could I forget him ? What about him % '

1 Why/ said Jim, ' I had a letter from my brother
Joe the other day, and he says Tom has altogether
gone to the bad. He met him drunk coming out of
some slum in Holborn, and followed him for a long
time in hopes of being able to speak to him, but the
fellow couldn't, or wouldn't recognize him, and only
ewore. He is living at some disreputable lodging-
house '

' Where 1 J exclaimed Charlie, excitedly.
' I don't know. Why ! what's the matl

Charlie

* I dare say. Whv

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 237

* Because I must go and see him. Could you find
out to-day by telegram ? s

' I'll try.' Presently he added, ' I could never make
out why you stuck to the fellow as you did, old man,
especially when he turned against you. You're a
better man than ever I shall be.*

s Nonsense ! I promised once to be his friend,
that's all. Do send the telegram soon. And now
tell me who's the pale man talking to Clarke ?.'

' A fellow called Reader — one of the cleverest men
we've got.'

1 He looks half-starved ! '

' Yes ; I'm afraid he's — I mean, I don't think he
takes proper care of himself.'

'Pity,' said Charlie. 'I say, old man, this is rare
steak ! Give us a bit more. What time does the
match begin ? '

1 At two. You old beggar I see if I don't pay off
some old scores before the day's over.'

' I thought you told me once your people didn't
fancy your going in for athletics ? '

s No more they do. I expect a stinger by this
post ; but I shall not open it till after the match.
What matches we used to have at llandlebury ! '

' Didn't we ! '

* And do you remember what an ass you used to
make of yourself over that precious silver watch of
yours ? '

It did one good to hear the laugh with which Charlie
greeted this reminder.

* I'd give my repeater, and a ten-pound note besides,
to get back that old watch/ said he. (If he had but

238 THE ADVENTURES OF

known 1) * But there's no knowing where it is now ;
poor Tom Drift must have parted with it years

ago/

With sucl talk the meal proceeded, and presently
the conversation grew more general, and branched out
on to all sorts of topics. George, having got over the
first strangeness of finding himself in society, found it
not so bad after all ; and, indeed, he very soon amazed
himself bv the amount he talked. It was a new world
to him, the hermit of the ' Mouse-trap/ to find himself
exchanging ideas with men of his own intellectual
standing ; and he certainly forgave Jim his persistency
in compelling his company this morning. He forgot
the patches in his clothes among such gentlemen as
Clarke and Charlie, and for the first time in his life
felt himself superior to his natural diffidence and
reserve. Who could help being at his ease where
Charlie was ? He kept up a running fire of chaff at
his old schoolfellow, for which occasionally the others
came in ; and if it be true that laughter is a good
digestive, Jim Halliday's breakfast that morning must
have agreed with the five who partook of it.

' Who's this coming 1 ' suddenly exclaimed the latter,
as there came a sound of footsteps slowly ascending
the stairs.

' Two of them ! ' said Charlie. ' Perhaps it's your
tailor and your hatter with their little bills.'

' Whoever it is, they're blowing hard,' said Clarke,

' They don't enjoy my " Gradus at Parnassum," '
said Jim. ' Come in, all of you ! ' he shouted.

The door opened slowly, and there appeared to
the astonished eyes of Jim and his party a grave

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 239

middle-aged gentleman and still more grave and
middle-aged lady.

1 Oh, my prophetic soul 1 my uncle and aunt 1 '
groaned Jim.

2 4 o THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER XXIII

How Jim's uncle and aunt spent a different sort
of day from that which they had expected.

r

THE apparition was indeed none other than Jim
Halliday's dreaded uncle and aunt, and the
object of their visit was easy to guess. They had, in
fact, taken the long journey from Cornwall as fast as
express trains could bring them, in order to remonstrate
personally with their depraved nephew on the error
of Iris ways.

They were evidently as astonished to find Jim's
room full of visitors, as Jim on his part was to see
them, and they looked so taken aback and discon-
certed that the party at once rose, and offered to
take their leave. Clarke and his friend actually
did depart, but Jim still had presence of mind enough
left to groan out an entreaty to Charlie and my master
that they would remain — an appeal so pathetic that
t^cre was no resisting it.

Charlie politely handed the good people to chairs,
while Jim, under cover of preparing a second edition
of breakfast, hastily arranged his plan of defence.

' Reader/ he whispered to my master, ' whatever

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 241

you do, keep the talk going, old man, or it's all U P.*
Then turning to his relatives, he broke out,

' This is a surprise 1 How are you both ? Upon
my word, you're looking grandly. Hew kind to
come and 6ce mo up here ! Will you allow me to
introduce my two friends, Ensign Newcome and Mr.
Reader ? My uncle and aunt, gentlemen.'

The uncle and aunt bowed gravely, and in a
frightened sort of way, in acknowledgment of the
courteous greeting of the two young men. It was
clear they had expected to find Jim alone, and over
a quiet cup of cocoa to reduce liim to a sense of his
wickedness. It put them out of their reckoning,
quite, to find that, if they were to open fire at once,
it would have to be in the presence of these two gen-
tlemanly and rather imposing strangers. However,
they were too full of their mission to delay, and bo
the uncle began,

' It will be as well, James, that I should state to

you

' Not a word now, till you've had some breakfast/
interrupted the wary Jim. ' My poor dear aunt must
be simply fagged to death. Do take your- bonnet
off, and come and Bit here in the easy-chair. Let
me make you some cocoa ; I know the way you
take it, exactly. Try those chops in front of you,
sir, they are prime, as Charlie will tell you. Reader,
old man, draw in and keep us company. Well, I
declare, this is a jolly family party ! And what's
the news down in your part of the world ? Have
you had a good harvest ? My uncle comes from
Cornwall, Charlie.'

242 THE ADVENTURES OF

And he gave his friend a lugubrious wink, as much
as to say, * Keep it up.'

' Do you live near the sea 1 ' thereupon began
Charlie.

' Pretty near, that ia, about twenty miles off/ said
the uncle, looking at Charlie under his spectacles.

1 My love, the gentleman will laugh at you/ said
bis good lady. ' I call twenty miles a long way,'

' I perfectly agree with you, ma'am/ said Charlie.
1 Twenty miles is a good distance in this little island
of ours. But it's curious how little they make of
such a distance in a big country like India, for in-
stance, where I am going. There, I am told, it in.
quite a common thing for a man to be twenty mile*
from his next-door neighbour, and yet be on con-
stant visiting terms/

' Dear me ! ' said the uncle.

* You don't know India, I suppose, sir ? ' inquire J
Charlie.

' No ; that is '

1 He's only read about it in books/ again put ia
the aunt ; * and so, my love, you'd better say at onco
you don't know anything about it.'

' Well/ said Charlie, ' it depends a good deal oa
the books. Some books of travel are so vivid one
almost seems to be in the country they describe.
Er — what did you say, Reader ? '

Reader was quick enough to take this broad hint,
and keep up the talk.

' To my mind, the most interesting books are those
which describe, not so much places, as people and
their manners. There are a great many books of

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 243

thia kind about India. One I lately read was specially
interesting.'

And then, to Jim's unbounded delight and grati-
tude, George began calmly to give a review a quarter
of an hour long of the work in question for tko

benefit of the two old people, who, as they listened,
became more and more impressed with the import-
ance of their nephew's friend, and of the impossibility
of obtruding their special grievance on the party at
the present time. Indeed, the aunt had almost for-
gotten the speech with which she had come prepared,
in her pleasure at hearing the young men talk, and
she even joined in the conversation in a manner which
showed how she enjoyed it. The uncle was still
gloomy, and appeared to be waiting the first
favourable opportunity for ' coming to the point/
The opportunity, however, never occurred. After
a long and lively talk on all sorts of matters, Jim
adroitly turned the conversation on to the subject of
athletics by appealing to his uncle to add his voice
to that of Reader's other friends in rebuking hiiji
for never taking any exercise.

' Look at his pale face ! ' he exclaimed ; * isn't it a
disgrace ? '

George bore this attack good-naturedly, and began
to excuse himself ; but the uncle, who had not before
noticed his looks, interrupted him by saying,

* Pardon me, sir, but I quite agree with James. lr
is very wrong to cultivate the brain at the expense o£
the body/

This observation brought down Charlie's hearty
approval, who forthwith launched into a rhapsody

244 THE ADVENTURES OF

on athletic sports — particularly football — appealing in
every sentence to the uncle, who now found himself
fairly in the toils.

' If it were for nothing more than the moral training
it gives a man/ said Charlie—' for the pluck, manli-
ness, and endurance it puts into him — we couldn't
over-estimate the value of athletics ; could we, sir ? *

' No — er — that is to say *

1 Why, look at Jim, here ! Upon my word, sir, if
you 11 excuse me saying it, it does you the greatest
credit the way he has been brought up to value
healthy exercise. Why, there are some parents and
guardians who, instead of encouraging that sort of
thing, would positively so far wrong their sons as to
forbid it. I can't make out that sort of training, can
you ? '

1 Eh ? Well, possibly not, 5 faltered the uncle, turn-
ing very red.

' Of course not, and you'll have your reward in
peeing Jim turn out a far better clergyman than your
mollycoddles, who don't know the way to look
their fellow-men straight in the face. Jim, old man,
you've had my cup up there ten minutes \ hand

it up.'

Jim filled it to overflowing, as a token, perhaps, of
the gratitude of his heart towards his champion, and
forthwith handed it up,

' And a -promos of that/ pursued Charlie, having
gulped down his coffee, ' you are just come up here
in the nick of time, for there's a glorious football
match on to-day *

The uncle groaned and the aunt fidgeted.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 245

' In which Jim is playing, and no one deserves the
honour better. You must come and see it by all
means. Eh, Jim ? *

' Rather,' said Jim ; * it would never do to miss it,
especially as Newcome is playing against -us. The
worst of it is, as we are both engaged, there will be
no one to pilot you about.'

' I shall be very glad/ said Reader — though, if
truth must be told, his politeness cost him an
effort — ' if your uncle and aunt will let me. I'm
almost as great a stranger, though, in the town as
they are.'

' You are very kind, sir/ said Jim's aunt, who had
been long since gained over by the enemy. ' We
shall be most pleased to have your escort. Eh, my
love ? Besides, wc shall help to keep you out in the
fresh air for once. But, James/ she said, ' I can't
get over you and Mr. Newcome being opponents in
this match and yet such friends/

Every one laughed at this, and Charlie confided to
the good lady his fixed determination of breaking her
nephew's legs before the day was out — a purpose
which, from the speaker's point of view, she could
not help admitting was a laudable one.

Thus the breakfast ended very satisfactorily for
every one except the uncle, who had at last dis-
covered the trap into which ho had let himself fall,
from which, however, he could not with grace free
himself.

Three hours later the two worthies, having seen
many of the sights of Cambridge with the advantage
of Reader's escort, found themselves with some hun-

246 THE ADVENTURES OF

dreds of other spectators on the field in which ths

t

notable football match of Cambridge v. Sandhurs
was immediately about to begin.

Jim Halliday's uncle and aunt could hardly have
denied that the thirty young men, half of them in
blue jerseys and half in red, who were now strolling
out on to the ground, were as fine a body of youths
as one could easily encounter in the course of a long
day's march. The picture of health and physique,
they seemed almost like some of those heroes of old
beside whom poor everyday man was wont to shrink
into insignificance. Among the blues towered Jim,
among the reds Charlie, two by no means the least
noble-looking of the company.

* How well James looks in that dress, my love I "
said the aunt.

' My love ? could hardly dispute the fact, so he said
nothing ; but in his secret heart he began to doubt
whether he had not taken an exaggerated view of ths
demoralizing nature of athletic sports.

Play was soon ordered, and then amidst breathless
silence the ball shot upward, propelled by the vigorous
kick of the Sandhurst captain.

It ia not my purpose to follow in all its details the
famous match of which I was that day spectator.
My muse has other things to sing of besides rallies
and charges, scrimmages and drop kicks, touchdowns
and passings. To me the game was chiefly interest-
ing as it was interesting to Jim Halliday and Charlie
Newcome ; but as during the first part of the match
both these worthies were what they would call ' out of
it ' — that is, on outpost duty — I found the company I

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 247

r

was in better worth studying than the ups and downs
of the football.

When the game first began the two good people
gazed in silent astonishment. It always takes some
time to understand the humour of a football matoh
from outside, and Jim's uncle and aunt consequently
for a time could make nothing out of the constant
succession of charges and scrimmages of which they
were witnesses. Presently, however, with the aid of
their own observation and the remarks of people around
them, they came to appreciate the sport better, and
grew proportionately interested. After a time the
interest grew to excitement and excitement found
relief in speech.

1 There's that little red-haired fellow got it again J '

exclaimed the aunt ; ' see how he runs I '

* Wait a bit I ' cried the uncle ; ' that fellow there
will catch him— no, he hasn't — just look at him ;
there's smartness for you 1 Ah i he's down I '

1 But another of the blues has got the ball V cried
the aunt, starting on tiptoe. ' Well, to be sure I five on
to one I what a shame 1 '

And so they kept up a running commentary on tha
fortunes of the game, much to George's amusement
and that of those near us. Now and then the uncle
appeared suddenly to recollect himself, and would
come out with a grunt of disapproval. Once, for
instance, when by a sort of common impulse the
whole of the players engaged in one of the scrim

ground

ejaculate

' Disgraceful 1 '

243 THE ADVENTURES OF

* Hold your tongue, my love,' broke in hia wife ;
• you know very well you'd like to be in it yourself if
you were a boy. / would ! *

After that the uncle, whatever he thought, said
nothing.

The sides appeared to be very evenly matched ; so
much so, that when ' half-time * was called neither had
gained the least advantage.

Just as the sides were changing over, preparing to
renew the contest, a man came running up to where
our party stood and called out,

* Will any one lend mo a watch ? Mine has stopped.'
This man was the timekeeper for Cambridge, and

indeed was no other than Clarke's friend, one of the
breakfast-party that morning.

' Here is one I ' cried George, recognizing him and
unfastening me from his ribbon-chain. The next
moment I was hurrying towards the goals in my
borrower's hands.

I had now nothing for it but to attend closely to
the game, for the old gentleman and lady were too far
away for me to be able to observe them any further.

The ball was started again, and I had the satis-
faction of seeing that both Jim and Charlie were in
new posts, which promised a better chance of sport.
And bo it happened.

Hardly bad the first scrimmage been formed when
Jim was seen slipping out of it with the bail under his
arm, making straight for the Sandhurst goal. He
was quickly stopped, however, and after a desperate
encounter the ball got free and rolled out of the crush
towards where Charlie stood.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 249

He, not waiting to pick it up. went at it with a
flying kick. Up flew the ball, amid cheers and shouts,
right over the heads of the players, and had it not
been for the promptitude of the Cambridge : backs ' it
might have got behind their goal. And now, as if
every one knew the time was getting short, the play
became harder than ever. Many a time did I catch
sight of my two Randlebury friends in the thick
of the fight, sometimes hand to hand, sometimes
separated by a living wall of humanity, but always
doing their work, and straining for the one object.
The time went on. The man who held me looked at
me now oftener than he had done hitherto ; and
presently, when I pointed to five minutes to four, he
cried out to a player near him, ' Five minutes more.'
That player was Charlie Newcome. and I saw his faoe
flush as of old, and knew he at anv rate intended to
make the most of the brief time remaining.

But two of the minutes were gone before his chance
came. Then there was a cry, and all eyes turned
towards him, for there came the ball flying straight to
where he stood. In a moment he had it, and started
to run. It was a desperate chance, but Charlie was
ready for desperate deeds. Shout rose on shout, and
cheer on cheer, as first one, then another of the enemy
was overturned or dodged. The more he achieved,
the less his enemies ventured against him, and he
dashed through their s forwards ' and between their
' quarter-backs.' Next moment, with a mighty swoop,
their ' half-back ' fell to the earth.

And now there are but two men to pass, and one of
these is Jim Halliday. The avenging host follows in

250 THE ADVENTURES OF

hot haste behind, but the issue of the fight lies with
these two. See the grin of joy on Jim's face as
he throws away hi3 cap, and watches his dear enemy
advance I It was as if a trumpet-call had suddenly
sounded in the ears of two old chargers, and to them
that moment the world was all contained in the
space which severed them. Straight as an arrow
rushed Charlie, firm as a rock waited Jim. Nor had
he long to wait. With a bound and a howl his enemy
leapt at him, and next moment the two were locked
in an embrace the shook of which even I could dis-
tinctly hear. Oh, shades of Randlebury I did your
school every turn out two finer men than this pair
of struggling, straining, rival friends ? The collision
occurred close to the goal-line, and a moment after-
wards a cry of * Maul I ' proclaimed that they had in

their struggle crossed the line, and that consequently
(in accordance with the law of the game) the contes
for the ball must be decided by these two alone,
without aid or hindrance from the breathless friends
and foes who stood round. A fair field and no favour I
A ring was formed, and as my heart beat rapidly on
towards the critical moment, these two strained every
nerve to get the advantage for his side before * time '
should be called.

' Bravo, our man I ' cried one. * Stick to it, New-
come ! ' shouted others. ' Now you have it, Halliday ! '
called out a third. Never was duel before the walls

of Troy more desperate. The crowd burst in on to
the field and thronged round, foremost among
whom Jim's aunt's voice was heard crying out
shrilly,

f

V

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 251

' Well, I never, it's James and Mr. Newcome, my
love. How hot they are [ '

It was evident the contest in which the two youths
were engaged was one not destined to end before time
was up. I pointed to within half a minute of the
fated hour — and it would take far longer than that
for even so powerful a champion as Jim to wrest the
ball from Charlie's defiant grasp. The timekeeper
turned away from the rivals and held me up. On
went my hand, and on went the struggle.
* Now, Newcome ; one tug more I '
' Bravo, our man ! You'll do it yet ! '
1 Time's up ! No side i '

Then rose those two from the earth, and immediatelv
the astonished Jim felt himself embraced before tho
whole multitude by his aunt.

' Well, James, and how do you feel after it all ? *
'Hungry,' replied Jim.

So ended the famous match. After that Jim had
no more trouble from his uncle and aunt on the sub-
ject of athletics, which they were fain to admit were
a branch of science beyond their comprehension.

Charlie started that same night for London, with
the intention of making one more effort to help Tom
Drift at all hazards. I, meanwhile, was restored to
the possession of my lawful owner, who returned to
his studies in the ' Mouse-trap ' ; sitting up all night,
I am sorry to 6ay, to make up for the loss of
the day.

252 THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER XXIV

How George Reader went up for his final
examination and left me behind him.

LD man, you're overdoing it ! '

These words were uttered by Jim Halliday, one
evening two years after the events related in our
last chapter, to his friend George Reader, as the two
Bat together in Jim's rooms at St. George's.

Time had wrought changes with both. My master
had secured the scholarship for which he had worked
so hard during his first year's residence, and no longer
inhabited the ' Mouse-trap/ His present quarters were
the rooms immediately above those in which he was
at this moment sitting, and it is hardly necessary
to say that the two friends were constantly in one
another's society. George, though still retaining much
of his shyness, had made many acquaintances at his
college, but Jim was his only friend. The two had
their meals together, attended lectures together,
worked together, and, though a greater contrast in
all respects could hardly have been possible, were

(airly inseparable.

At the present moment they were both working

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 253

hard for the grand Tripos examination which was to
close their college career. Every one said George
would stand high in this, and Jim (since he had taken
to hard reading) was expected to pass too, though
how, none of his friends cared to prophesy.

They were working hard on the evening in question,
when Jim, suddenly shutting up his books and pushing
back his chair, exclaimed,

' Old man, you're overdoing it ! '

George looked up from his work, surprised at the
interruption. Alas ! his pale face and sunken eyes
testified only too forcibly to his friend's protest. I,
who knew him best, and saw him at all times, had
watched with grief the steady and persistent under-
mining of his health, at no times robust, and dreaded
to think what might be the result of this protracted
strain on his constitution.

1 1 tell you, you're overdoing it, old man, and you
must pull up ! '

' Suppose we talk of that afterwards/ said George.

' Not at all,' retorted the dogged Jim ; * just shut up
your books, Reader, and listen to me.'

' I'll listen to you, Jim, but don't make me shut up
my books. What have you got to say ? '

' Just this ; you're doing too much. I can see it.
Everybody can see it. Do you think I can't see your
eyes and your cheeks ? Do you think I can't hear
you blowing like -'

1 Really — — ' began George.

1 Listen to me ! ' went on Jim — ' blowing like an old
broken-winded horse 1 Yes, you may laugh, but I
mean it. Do you think I don't know you've never

254 THE ADVENTURES OF

been out of doors ten minutes that you could help
for six months ? and that you have even given up the
organ ? *

'That's true/ groaned George, leaning back in his
chair.

1 Of course it's true, and it's equally true that you'll
smash up altogether if this goes on much longer. Then
what will be the use of all your achievements ? What
will be the good of them to your father and mother,
for instance, when you are knocked up ? '

' I must work up to the Tripos now/ pleaded George,

* it's only a fortnight/

* My dear fellow, how you talk ! As if you weren't
certain of a first class even if you were not to look
at another book between now and then/

' I'm not at all certain/ said George, anxiously.

1 Yes you are, and if you hadn't worked yourself
into an unhealthy, morbid state you would know it.
No, old fellow, we've never quarrelled yet, and don't
let us begin/

' Certainly not. Why should we ? '

1 We shall if I don't get my way. Now tell me,
what time did you go to bed last night ? '

' Three, I believe. 5

* No, it wasn't, it was four, for I heard you over-
head ; and the night before it was three ; and the
night before that, if I mistake not, you didn't go to
bed at all. Eh ? '

George smiled, but said nothing.

* Well/ said Jim, putting down his foot, * this must
be stopped. You may work till ten every night, but
then you must go to bed, or you and I will fall out.'

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 255

Jim looked so grave as he said this that George
was bound to take it in the earnest way in which it
was meant. A long argument ensued. George pleaded,
Jim bullied, and at last my master was obliged to
promise to give over work at twelve every night for
the next fortnight. But more he would not promise.
No persuasions could tempt him out of doors for more
than a hurried five minutes' walk, or induce him to
yield to the fascinations of the organ. As the days
went on, too, he grew more and more despondent
about his own chances, and implored more than once
to be released from his promise. But Jim was in-
flexible, and held him grimly to his engagement.

1 You're certain to be among the first three/ he said,
over and over again, ' and if you'll only give yourself
two days' rest you may be first.'

' Yes, of the third class,' mournfully replied my
master. * I tell you what, Jim, it isn't fair to bind me
down to a promise I made almost under compulsion,
and for fear of making you angry.'

' It's quite fair, and you would make me angry if
you didn't stick to it. Why, my dear fellow, has it
ever occurred to you I'm in for the same Tripos as
you, and I'm not behaving as ridiculously as
you 1 '

' You are safe to be in the second class,' said
George.

' I wish I were as safe of a second as you are of
a first ; but I wouldn't kill myself to be senior
classic.'

' You forget how important it is for me to take
a good place.'

256 THE ADVENTURES OF

' It is far more important to retain your health.'

6 Think what a difference it would make at home if
I got a fellowship.'

1 What a difference it would make if you had to go
to a hospital.'

' What a pity, when I have the chance, not to
use it.'

' What a pity, when you have the chance, to throw
it away by knocking yourself up.'

1 Surely four days can't make any difference.'

i Then why not stop work now and take a rest ? *

It was plain to see these two would never agree,
and so the time went on until the date of the
examination arrived.

The night before the two friends met in George's
room. George was in low spirits, nervous and fretful.
It was plain to see his friend's protest had come too
late to be of much use, for he had grown more and
more worn every day ; and the additional hours spent
in bed had only been a source of worry and vexation.
Jim, on the cipher hand, was doing his best to keep up,
not his own spirits only, but those of his friend. His
chances of a second class were as momentous to him
(though he would not admit it) as his friend's of a
first, and he too was experiencing, though in a less
degree, that heart-sinking which so often characterizes
the eve of an examination.

' You are not going to work to-night ? ' said he to
my master. -

4 1 think I must/ said George, wearily, and putting
his hand to his forehead.

' It can't be any earthly good now/ said Jim, ' so

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 257

let's forget all about it for a bit and talk of something
else.'

Forget all about it I George smiled in a melancholy
way at the words ; but nevertheless he was not well
enough to contest the point. ' And by the way,*
added Jim, cheerily, ' I've got a letter from Newcome
(you remember Newcome, George, the man who
played for Sandhurst against us two years ago) I
think you'll like to hear.'

There was one in the room, whether George liked
it or not, who was dying to hear it 1

' He's just gone out to India, you know, to join his
regiment/

' Here's his letter/ he said, producing it and ner-
vously glancing at George to see if he appeared inter-
ested. ' Shall I read it ? '

' Yes, please/ said George, slowly.
1 It's not a long one. " Dear Jim," he says, " I wish
you were out here with all my heart. I should at least
have one fellow to talk to among all these strangers.
I had a decent enough passage. Father Ocean was
on his good behaviour, and the vessel was a snug one.
We came in for rough weather in the Persian Gulf,
but it didn't afflict me much, and I landed here two
days ago, safe and sound. I reported myself to our
colonel yesterday and was introduced to my fellow-
officers. Some of them are decent fellows, though
perhaps hardly in your and my line. I had been told
the officers of our regiment were a rackety lot, but I
don't see much sign of that yet. It's awfully dull

here, and I would give a lot to be up in your rooms
at George's, sprawling in your easy-chair and talking

258 THE ADVENTURES OF

over Randlebury days. I suppose you will soon be
in for your final. Good luck be with you, my boy !
Remember me in your wall if you get made a Fellow.
I suppose the man I met in your rooms once — Read
I believe his name was — will be first. Talking of
that day, have you heard lately of Tom Drift ? I shall
always be glad I went up to town that night and
found him out, though I lost him again so soon. I
inquired everywhere when I was last in town, but
nothing was known of him, except that he was sup-
posed to have been engaged in some " But that's

all about an old schoolfellow and won't interest you.
" We expect to be ordered up country pretty soon
now, and meanwhile have liberty to amuse ourselves
pretty much as we like, but, as far as I can see, cards
unfortunately seem the only recreation in which the
officers indulge. However, I shall be kept busy with
drill, and being junior officer expect I shall be for
some time fag of the regiment. Mind you write as
soon as ever you get this, and a regular yarn. I have
had to write this in a hurry, and in a room where a
noise is going on. By next mail you shall get a full,
true, and particular account of all the doings, sayings,

and adventures of yours as ever,

"C. N."

1 I'm afraid,' said Jim, as he folded up the letter, ' it
will be rather dull out there, for — hullo ! '

This ejaculation was caused by seeing that George
was sitting motionless with his elbows on the table
and his face buried in his hands.

' What's the matter ? ' he said, getting up and laying
his hand on his friend's arm.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 259

George looked up suddenly with a Beared face, whioh
frightened Jim.

' Old man, aren't you well ? ' said the latter anxiously.

' Eh 1 — oh, yes I I'm all right. Why — why do you
ask ? But I say, Jim, this room is close. Let's go
out and take a turn in the big court.'

Jim, in sore perplexity, complied, and for an hour
those two paced the flags round the great quadrangle.
George was himself again, much to Jim's relief, and
Buffered himself to be sent uncomplainingly to bed at
ten. To bed, but not to sleep. All night long I heard
him toss to and fro, vainly endeavouring to recall Greek
and Latin lines or some other fragment of his studies.
At about six he dozed fitfully for an hour, and then
came the knock at the door which summoned him
from his bed to the first day of his ordeal.

I would rather not dwell on those examination days,
for I could tell, if no one else could, that my master
was really ill, and was only prevented by sheer excite-
ment from succumbing at any moment. As day by
day passed I could see the effort becoming more and
more difficult The nights were worse than the days

sleepless, feverish, distracted. It was evident this
could not go on for long.

The last day of the examination arrived, and my
master was in his usual place in the Senate House.
His pen flew swiftly all the morning along the paper,
and one by one, a triumphant tick was set against the
printed questions before him. I could see no one as
well employed as he. Jim, at a distant desk, was
biting the end cf his pen and looking up at the ceiling ;
other men sat back in their seats and stared with

260 THE ADVENTURES OF

knitted brows at the paper before them ; others buried
their fingers in their hair and looked the picture of
despair. But still my master wrote on. It wanted
half an hour to the time of closing when he reached
the last question on the paper. I saw his lips curl into
a smile as he dashed his pen into the ink and began
to write. Then suddenly it dropped from his fingers,
and his hands were clasped to his forehead. He made
no motion and uttered no cry ; men went on with their
work on each side of him, and professors at their desks
never turned his way. I looked wildly towards Jim ;
he sat there,, biting the end of his pen and scowling
at the question before him, but for a long time never
looked our way. At last his head turned, and in an
instant he was at his friend's side. Others came
round too and offered help. Among them my poor
master was borne from the hall and carried to his
rooms, and that evening it was known all over the
University that Reader, of George's, had been taken
ill during the Tripos examination, and now lay
delirious in his rooms in college.

^e :fc sj: %i i£

Every one believed the attack was but a slight one,
but I feared the worst ; I knew how systematically
and fatally my master's constitution had been under-
mined by the work of the last three years, and felt
sure it could never rally from the fierce fever which
had laid him low. And it neVer did. The fever left
him in due time, and his mind ceased to wander, but
every hour his strength failed him. His parents and
Jim, and sometimes his old friend the rector, would
constantly be about his bed, and to all of them it

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 261

soon became evident what little hope there was of

hia recovery. Indeed, he must have guessed it too I

One day, as Jim sat with him, a faint shout was

heard below in the quadrangle.

* What's that ? ' inquired George.

1 I'll see,' said Jim, and he went lightly from the
room.

Presently he returned with a face almost beaming.

' It's good news,' he said ; ' they were reading
the result of the Tripos.'

1 And where are you ? ' asked George.

* You are first 1 ' said Jim, proudly.

1 Where are you ? ' repeated George.

' I am twelfth/

' In the first class ? '

' Yes.'

1 That is good news, old fellow I '

' That shout was in your honour, you know ; our
college is as proud as anything to have the first
man.'

George smiled feebly, and for a long time both were
silent.

Then George said,

' You were right, Jim, after all. If I had listened to
you I should have been wiser.'

' Never mind, old man, you'll know better another

time.'

* I shall never have the chance, Jim.'

' Don't say that, George ; every one hopes you'll
get better.'

George smiled again, then said,

* Jim, you will look after my father and mother,

262 THE ADVENTURES OF

won't you ? You know I've got a little money now,
and they will be comfortably off, but you'll go and
see them now and then ? '

Jim laid his hand on the wasted hand of his
friend.

f And, Jim, I want you to take my watch when I'm
gone. I always valued it as much as anything, and
I'd like you to have it.'

Poor Jim could say nothing, he only gave another
pressure of his friend's hand.

Then presently Mrs. Reader returned to the room,
and he slipped away.

The end was not long in coming. One afternoon
as the four friends he loved most stood round his bed,
George opened his eyes, and said,

' Listen I '

' What is it, lad ? ' whispered the father.

1 An organ — somewhere — open the window.'

They opened the window, but the only music out
there was the chirping of birds in the trees, and the
distant footfalls of passers-by.

' Listen, there it is I ' he said again.

' What is it playing ? ' asked the clergyman.

4 A new tune.'

And almost as he spoke the words, he closed hia
eyes for the last time on earth.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 263

CHAPTER XXV

How I fall into the hands of an old friend.

OYS may imagine with what astonishment Jim
Halliday discovered, on receiving the legacy be-
queathed him by his dead friend, that I was the
very watch which years before he had known bo
familiarly as the property of Charlie Newcome. At
first he could not believe it, and marvelled how any
two watches could be so much alike. Then he dis-
covered the ' C. N.' scratched long ago inside, which
he well remembered. And further inquiries enabling
him to trace me back to the Muggerbridge silversmith,
and from him to the pawnbroker's sale in London,
he had no doubt left that I was actually the watch of
which nothing had been heard since Tom Drift
owned me.

My new master did not long remain in Cambridge
after the death of his friend. He left the University
in many respeots a more thoughtful and earnest man
than he had entered it, and in leaving it set himself
honestly and faithfully to the work for which he had
prepared, and on which his heart was fixed.

I shall not follow him through all the labours of his

264 THE ADVENTURES OF

first village curacy, which lasted a year, during which
time many people learned to love the manly, open-
hearted young clergyman, and to bless the day when
he had been sent among them.

At the end of a year he was removed to the charge
of a church in a distant large seaport, where every-
thing was in strangest contrast with the scenes he had
just left. Instead of simple villagers and rustics, his
work now lay amongst labourers and artisans of the

poorest and lowest class. Instead of fresh country
air he had now to breathe the vitiated air of close
courts and ill-kept streets ; and instead of an atmo-
sphere of repose and innocence, he had now to move
in an atmosphere of vice and disorder, from which
very often his soul turned with a deep disgust. Still
he worked manfully at his post with a bold heart,
ready to face any hardship in the service of his
Master, and never weary of striving by the Spirit's
help to bring into the hard lives around him the
elevating joys which they alone know who can call
Christ the Saviour theirs. One day an adventure
befell him which had a strange bearing on my own
fortunes, and the fortunes of more than one of my
several masters.

The gaol chaplain at Seatown had recently died,
and during the interval necessary for appointing a
successor Jim was asked and undertook to add to his
other labours that of visiting the prisoners confined
there. It was melancholy, and on the whole monoton-
ous work, for the persons whom he thus attended,
were mostly stupid, ignorant beings on whose
hardened souls it was difficult indeed to make the

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 265

slightest impression. They listened sulkily to what
the chaplain had to say, but to all appearance neither
understood nor cared about a single word, and he
had the disappointment of noticing, week after
week, and month after month, scarcely a sign of
good rising out of his labours in the case of any one
of them.

One day the governor met him as he was about
to pay his customary visits.

' Oh, good morning, sir. You'll find a new customer
to-day.'

4-
v

The gaol governor, you will observe, spoke abou
his prisoners in a very commercial sort of way.

1 Yes, and a queer one too,' he added ; ' he doesn't
look like one of our regular customers.'

* What is he imprisoned for ? '

* He was drunk, and quarrelled with a sailor on the
quay, and pushed him into the water, I believe.'

' Was the sailor drowned ? '

' No, they fished him out, but this gentleman has
got six months for it. He seems very down about
it, so I'd like you to see him.'

e All right ; I will make a point of visiting his cell.
Good morning.'

And Jim went on his round, thinking very little
about the governor's communication.

Presently he came to the gallery in which the new
prisoner's cell was, and asked the turnkey to show
him the door.

* No use you a-going in there,' muttered that-
functionary.

' Why ? ' asked Jim.

266 THE ADVENTURES OF

' He do 6wear so aa I never hear a cove swear
afore . '

' Ah,' said Jim, ■ and I suppose you've heard a good
deal too in your time.'

• So you may say, but this here young fellow comes
out with it as if he'd skin you alive.'

' Well, I must see him. Let me in, please.'

When the door was opened the prisoner's back waa
turned, nor did he alter his position as Jim entered
the cell.

There was undoubtedly something unusual about
the man. His figure was not that of a labourer or a
rough, nor was his attitude one of stolid brutishness,
such as the chaplain had grown only too familiar with.

Jim stood a moment irresolute, and then said,

■ May I speak to you, friend ? '

The man turned himself, and without raising his
eyes from the stone floor, poured out a volley of curses
which fully justified the turnkey's description.

Jim started, and uttered a quick exclamation. But
it was not at the curses, terrible as they were. No,
his amazement was of another kind altogether ; for
in the face and voice of this unhappy speaker he was
forcibly reminded of one he once knew in very dif-
ferent scenes. As the man went on he watched him
keenly and earnestly. He heeded not the oaths, or
the taunts, or the threats which flowed from his lips ;
but as word followed word, and gesture gesture, and
look look, he became gradually convinced that the
resemblance was more than imaginary — that, indeed,
this blaspheming convict was one whom he had once
known and still remembered.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 267

Walking up to him, and laying his hand on his
shoulder, Jim said, quietly,

' Tom Drift, do you remember me ? '

The man started as for an instant he raised his eyes.
Then, letting them drop once more, he growled,

' That's not my name ; I don't know you. Let me
alone ! '

Jim, more convinced than ever, now did the wisest
thing he could in leaving the cell without another
word.

' Well,' said the turnkey, with a half -triumphant
grin, as they turned to leave the gallery, ' wasn't I
right ? Didn't he give you half a dozen as pretty
bits of language as you ever heard ? '

' Do not speak to me about it, please,' replied Jim,
more tartly than he had been ever known to speak
to any one.

He did not return to the gaol for a week ; and
then the first visit he paid was to the new prisoner's
cell.

He entered it anxiously, and not without misgivings.
Tom Drift was sitting on his little bench with his
head in his hands.

* May I come in ? ' said Jim, nervously.

Tom neither spoke nor raised his head ; and Jim
quietly stepped in. It was evident the interview of a
week ago had had its effect on Tom Drift. He
seemed as he sat there like a man who would fain
lose himself if he only knew how. He never once
raised his head from his hands or uttered a svllable
while Jim sat and talked to him. The latter knew
better than to return to the topic which had so

268 THE ADVENTURES OF

startled the prisoner a week ago, and contented himself
with mere kindly talk and the reading of a short
passage of Scripture. All this Tom suffered without
interruption, stirring neither head nor foot all the
time,

' Now, good-bye,' said Jim, rising ; ' don't get to
think you have no friends.'

The man fidgeted impatiently, and next moment
Jim was out in the gallery.
• ' What's that man's name ? ' he inquired of the
turnkey .

' Dykes ; and I tell you what, Mr. Halliday, be

is-

c Open this door, please, my man,' interrupted Jim,
by way of cutting him short.

During the week which followed Jim was restless
and out of spirits. He seemed unable to settle down
to anything, and it was evident his heart was ill at
ease — why, it was easy to guess. He had found Tom
Drift, and there was a chance of rescuing him. But
how to do it ? How to approach one who was ashamed
of his own name, and who repelled with an oath every
offer of help ?

Long and earnestly did my master think over the
matter. He also wrote a long letter to Charlie, telling
him all, and promising to do all that could be done
for the poor prodigal. During the days that intervened
before his next visit, too, he made as careful and full
inquiries about Tom as it was possible to do.

The poor fellow had come to Seatown a month
before, and very shortly became a familiar loafer on
the quays. No one knew where he came from or

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 269

why he was in Seat own, unless indeed he expected
to be able to conceal himself on some vessel going
abroad. Jim found out the lodging-house where he
he had lived, but was unable to hear anything there to
throw light on what he had been doing, or whence he
had come. One man said he had found him once
down by the water's edge, looking as though he
intended to throw himself in — and the man who gave
him drink at the public-house remembered him — and
the man whom he had assaulted — but that was
all.

Wretched enough was the picture it presented of a
hopeless, friendless vagabond, weary of life, yet not
daring to die, and finding his only solace in deeper
degradation.

Tom was walking to and fro in his cell the next
time Jim called. It was almost the first time I had
been able to get a view of his face. And oh ! how
changed it was. Not merely that it looked pale and
worn, with bloodshot eyes and hectic cheeks, but
there was a scared despairing look there which fairly
shocked me. Dissipation, and shame, and want, had
all set their mark there. Alas ! how soon may the
likeness of God be degraded and defaced ! He con-
tinued to walk to and fro as Jim sat down and began
to read, but I could see he more than once darted a
quick glance from under his clouded eyebrows at my
master. I could tell by the beating of the latter's
heart that he had made up his mind not to leave this
morning without an effort to speak to Tom of old
times, and I trembled for the result of his venture.
It seemed impossible to say a word while Tom con-

270 THE ADVENTURES OF

tinued to walk up and down his cell like a caged
beast in his den, and Jim saw that every moment hia
opportunity was becoming less likely.

' Will you stand "till and listen to me a moment ? '
he said at last.

Tom growled out an oath, and halted in front of
him.

' Be quick, ' said he.

1 I'm not going to preach,' said Jim, ' I want you to
look at something.'

4 1 want to look at nothing,' muttered Tom,
beginning to walk again.

1 But you must, you shall look at it ! ' exclaimed
Jim, starting at once to his feet,

Tom stopped short, suddenly, and turned upon him
like a hunted animal. But Jim neither faltered nor
quailed. He walked resolutely up to the poor fellow,
and suddenly drawing me from his pocket, held me
out towards him, saying,

< Look at this, Tom Drift ! '

Tom knew me at once, and I never saw a man
change as he did that moment. The savage scowl
vanished from his face, and a sudden pallor came to
his hollow cheeks. A trembling seized him as he
held out his hand to take me, and but for Jim's support
he would hardly have remained standing. My master
led him gently to the bench, and putting me into his

hand, said,

' I'll leave it with you till '^o-morrow, old fellow j

good-bye.'

I heard the key turn in the door behind him, and
counted his retreating footsteps down the gallery,

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 271

and then became fully conscious where and in whose
charge I was.

And now an old familiar sound rang in my ears
once more, ' Be good to Tom Drift ! * Long, long
had I ceased to believe it possible that the chance of
obeying my dear first master's request would ever
again come to me ; but here it was. I lay in the
prodigal's trembling hands, and looked up into his
troubled face, and heard his deep-drawn sigh, and
felt that there was still something left for me to do.

No one disturbed Tom Drift and me that night,
Jim had explained enough to the governor to gain
permission for me to remain in the poor fellow's
company till next day, and I need hardly say I never
left his hand. Memories of better days, of noble
friends, of broken vows, crowded in upon him as he
sat bending over me that night.

Daylight faded, but still he never stirred ; the
governor made his nightly round, but he never took
his eyes off me ; and when it was too dark to see me
he held me clasped between his hands as tenderly as
if I had been a child.

I cannot, and would not if I could, describe all that
passed through Tom Drift's soul that night. What
struggles, what remorse, what penitence. Once he
murmured Charlie Newcome's name, and once he
whispered to himself, in the words of the parable he
had so lately heard, * No more worthy, no more
worthy ! ' Save for this he neither spoke nor moved,
till an early streak of dawn shot through the grated
window and fell upon us.

Then he turned and knelt, with me still clasped lo

272 THE ADVENTURES OF

his hands. And so that night, and with it the crisis
of Tom Drift's life, was passed.

There was no more difficulty now for Jim Halliday.
Tom even gave me up when he heard how I had come
into my master's possession.

Then he asked about Charlie, and Jim told him all
he knew. And so the weeks went on, and hope once
more lit up Tom Drift's face. How could I help
rejoicing in the share I had had in this blessed work
of restoration ?

Alas ! how fleeting is this world's satisfaction !

A short time afterwards, only a week or so before
the termination of Tom Drift's imprisonment, my
master was returning home from the gaol, tired out
after Iris day's work. His way lay over a place half
brickfield, half common, across which a narrow foot-
path went. We had got half way over when suddenly
a dreadful sensation seized me. I was slipping through
the bottom of my pocket ! Though I had a watered
ribbon attached to me my master always carried me
loose in his waistcoat pocket, with never a suspicion
of the hole that was there. But now that hole seemed
suddenly to expand in order to let me through.
Lower and lower I slipped. I tried to scream, I
endeavoured to attract my master's attention. But-
all in vain. He strode unconsciously on, never giviug
a thought to me or my peril. I held on as long as 1
could. Then I dropped. If only I could have fallen
on his foot, or struck his knee as I descended ! But
no. I slid quietly down, scarcely grazing his trousers,
and just out of the reach of his boot. For a moment
J hoped wildly he would see me as I lay at his feet.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 273

Alas ! he walked heedlessly on, leaving me on my
back on the footpath, powerless to cry after him, and
not daring to guess what would become of me.
In fact, reader, I was lost.

274 THE ADVENTURES OF

CHAPTER XXVI

T

How I was unexpectedly enlisted in a new ser-
vice, in company with an Irishman.

HE first thing I was conscious of, after partially
recovering from the agony, mental and bodily,
of my late accident, was a sharp tugging at my handle.

1 Watch ! I say, watch ! ' I heard a voice whisper,
' what's to be done ? ' It was the watered ribbon.

' How should I know ? ' I growled ; ' if you had
done your duty we should never have been here ! '

One is always ready to blame somebody for every-
thing that happens amiss.

( Oh, yes, I dare say/ it replied ; " if you hadn't
poked your nose into that hole we should never have
been here.'

I did not like being thus talked to by a disreputable
piece of watered ribbon, and so kept a dignified silence.

' What's to be done 1 ' presently repeated my com-
panion, giving me another rude tug at the collar.

' Hold your tongues, if we've nothing to say,' was my
curt reply.

' Oh, but I've a lot to say,' went on this irrepressible
chatterbox ; ' in the first place '

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 275

1 Will you be silent ? ' said I, angrily ; ' isn't it bad
enough to be down here, all through your carelessness ? '

1 But it's not through my carelessness ; it was through
the hole in the pocket you got down here.'

' If you had half the sense of a '

1 Of a nickel watch, let us say,' said the watered
ribbon, losing his temper ; * and that would be precious
little. Well ? '

' If you had half the sense of a blade of grass, you
would have been able to prevent it.'

' But you see I hadn't half the sense of a blade of
grass, or a quarter, or an eighth, or a sixteenth. If I
had I should have known better than to lend mv
moral support to a good-for-nothing, tarnished, ill-
regulated, mendacious piece of Britannia metal, that
chooses to call itself a silver watch. Ha, ha ! what do
you think of that ? '

What I thought of that this impudent ribbon was
not destined then to hear ; for there came at that
moment a sound of approaching footsteps across the
field, which made us both hold our breaths. Unless
the comer, whoever he was, could get sight of us, he
was sure to tread right on the top of us ! Luckily the
moon was out, and with her aid I made myself as
bright as possible. The footsteps belonged to a youth,
not, certainly, oppressed by melancholy, to judge by
the tune he was whistling, or very infirm, to judge by
the pace at which he advanced

He came nearer and nearer, and in another step
would have been upon me when suddenly both he
and the whistling halted. He stooped, and, with an
exclamation of surprise, picked me up.

276 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Man alive, an' it's a watch ! Hout, boys ! there's
luck for yez ! *

So saying he thrust me and the ribbon into a pocket
crowded with all sorts of oddments, and walked on
more rapidly than ever.

I was too bewildered at first by my narrow escape
and the sudden change in my fortunes to pay much

heed to my new quarters ; but presently that ever-
lasting ribbon jerked my neck roughly, and called out
in a loud whisper,

' I say, watch, he's an Irishman ! '

1 Oh ! ' said I, as briefly as I could.

1 Yes, and there's a lucifer here tells me he's no
better than he ought to be. What do you think of
that ? '

* I think you and he ought to understand one another,
if that's the case,' growled I, unable to resist the
temptation of a sarcastic reply.

' Ho, ho ! that's pretty good for you, watch. How-
ever, there are some folk who are not as good as they
ought to be, let alone better.'

After a brief pause he began once more.

* He's young ; only eighteen, I'm told.'

As no answer was necessary here, I vouchsafed
none.

1 And he's trying to get a job on some ship, there's
a nice look-out ! What a poor figure you'd cut if you
went to sea ! '

I could not stand this, probably because I knew it
was true ; so I turned my back, and in self-defence
bade good evening to an old pocket-comb which lay
near me.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 277

I Whew ! good evening ! whew ! ' replied he. He
had a curious way, this comb, of giving a sort of
half-whistle, half-sigh, between every few words he
spoke.

' I suppose you are an older resident here than I
am ? ' I suggested, by way of making myself agreeable.

' No, I'm not, whew 1 I belong to the other pocket,
whew ! I don't know why I'm here, whew ! but make
yourself at home, whew 1 '

I I hear your master is going to sea,' said I.

1 Not at all, whew 1 Who told you that ? whew I
but I tell you what, whew '

' What ? ' I inquired.

At this moment our master stopped still in the

middle of the road. I looked out and- saw that he

was standing face to face with a fine soldierly-looking

fellow in uniform, who wore a cockade of ribbons on

his shako.

1 Good evening, my lad,' said the soldier.

IT

' Good evening, cap'n,' said the youth.

' Not cap'n just yet,' said the other, laughing ; * call

it sergeant.'

' Well, sargint. Good evening to ye, sargint.'

' I've been looking for you all day, that I have,' said

the sergeant.

What

fin

fellow in the place, and that's about the same thing.'
The lad chuckled at this vastly, and then said,
' And what might ye be wanting me for, gineral, at

all at all * '

' Faith, Patrick,' said the sergeant, adopting the

278 THE ADVENTURES OF

Irish brogue as if he had been a native, ' to give yez
a message from the Quane, just.'

' The Quane ! ' shouted the Irishman.

' Sure, no other. She wants your help, my lad/

1 And she shall have it, bless her I What can I do
at aU ? '

' Arrah, she wants yez to foight a blackguard or two
that's guv' her impidence.'

1 They have I I'm yer boy for a shindy. Where
are they, colonel ? '

* Not far off. And, by the way, she sent ye this
bran new shillin' with her best respex to ye, Pat ; and
sez I'm to ax ye what you'll take to drink her health
in ; so come along, my lad.'

Patrick did come along, and of course was duly and
willingly enlisted by his new friend, who promised
him honour, and glory, and riches enough to make a
commander-in-chief's mouth water.

My new master, perhaps, was fond of making him-
self out a greater simpleton than he really was. At
any rate, he appeared to believe every word the
recruiting officer told him. And having no friends to
say good-bye to, and no luggage to pack up, and no
money (unless he pawned me) to spend, he was ready
for marching orders immediately. To my surprise,
he showed no desire now to dispose of me.

' What 'ud I want to give him up ? ' he said to him-
self as he held me in his hand. ' Shure he'll be handy to
tell the toime by on the faylde of battle.' And with
this satisfactory assurance he put me back in his
pocket, which, greatly to my relief, was not the one
which contained that asthmatic pocket-comb.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 279

Patrick had not to leave for his depot till next day,
and took a long stroll through the streets of Seatown
along with the recruiting officer this evening. He
was in high spirits and very proud of being a soldier,
ao the sergeant had very little difficulty in keeping
him in good humour. Indeed, he stood that officer
in good stead once ; for encountering a compatriot
acquaintance, a likely sort of fellow too, he helped
her Majesty's army to a fine recruit.

1 Here, Larry, ye blackguard/ called he, * here's a
genTman axing for yez.'

Larry, a hulking sheepish young Irishman, did not
look particularly happy at this information, and
replied,

* And what's to prevent him axing ? '

' Man dear, and is that the way ye address one of
the Quane's foighting men ? Spake to him, meejor
dear.'

The ' dear meejor ' at this point took up the dis-
course.

1 Faith,' he said, * till I saw Patrick here I thought
there wasn't a single boy in the place smart enough to
wear a red coat, but I see there's two of ye anyhow.'

And the sergeant laughed loud and clapped Larry
on the back, and told him it was a shame for him to
be walking about in boots full of holes, when he might
be strutting up and down as fine as any gentleman in
the place, to say nothing of regular pay and quarters,
and all the chance of glory. And Patrick added his
persuasions, and quoted his own example as a great
argument. And between them Larry let the shilling
drop into his hand, and the three went off to drink her

280 THE ADVENTURES OF

Majesty's health, and then continued their pilgrimage
through the streets.

At one street corner there was a rush of people,
reading a newly-posted bill. Fancy my astonishment
as I read : — ' £20 reward I Lost yesterday (February
4th), near Seatown Gaol, an old silver watch, of very
little value to any one but the owner. A piece of
black ribbon was attached. Any one bringing the
above to the Rev. James Halliday, at 2, Quay Street,
will receive £20 reward.'

How my heart beat as our party halted in front of
this announcement. Alas I my new master was not a
scholar, and on satisfying himself the object of the
people's assembling was not a fight, he took no further
interest in the matter, but shouldered his way past
with no more thought of me just at that moment than

of the North Pole.

That night, as I lay in the dark in my new quarters,
I had leisure to think over the strange turn which
my fortune had taken. Here I was in a town where
three of those whom at some time or other I had
called master were living. One was a common
prisoner, one a hard-working curate, and one a raw
recruit. Of my other masters, one was a London
thief, one lay in his grave, and the other, and best loved
of all, was far away in scenes and perils which I could
not so much as picture to myself. What would become
of me ? I knew not ; but I could not help feeling the
best part of my life was spent, for who could be to me
again what some of those whom I now remembered
had been ?

I had arrived thus far in my meditations when I all

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 281

of a sudden turned faint. I knew what the matter
was at once, and what did this lump of an Irishman
understand about watch-keys and winding up ?

I called faintly to the watered ribbon
'I'm running down ! '

' Down where ? ' ejaculated he, in well-feigned alarm.

' Wretch ! ' gasped I, ' somebody ought to wind me
up/

' Up where ? ' again asked my unsympathetic
tormentor.

' Brute ! ' was all I could say.

* That's just the way with you clever people,' began
the ribbon ; ' as long as you are all right no name's
bad enough for poor people like us ; but as soon as
ever j t ou get into trouble '

Here with a groan I ran down, and was spared the
end of his speech.

I only had a vague, dim idea of what took place
for the next few months. 1 was conscious of long
railway journeys, and arriving at a big, dreary-lookin
sort of prison where there was nothing but soldiers.
All day long the place rang with bugle notes and
words of command ; and all night my master slept in
a great room with a lot of noisy men, of whom I
have an impression he was not the most silent. In
due time he put a coat over the waistcoat in which
I lived, and was mightily proud the first time he
walked abroad in his new dress. And so things
went on for nearly a year.

But one day it was evident some great excitement
had come to vary the monotony of our barrack life.
Officers talked in clusters instead of drilling their

282 THE ADVENTURES OF

men, and the men instead of doing their ordinary
work crowded into the long shed to talk over the news.
And it soon came out what the news was. The

regiment had been ordered to hold itself in
readiness for immediate service at the seat of war
in India ! What excitement there was I What
cheers and exultation ! What spirits the men were
in, and what friends every one became all of a
sudden with everybody else ! Among the rest my
young master's blood rose within him at the thought
of fighting. He had grown sick of the dull routine
of barrack life, and more than once half repented
his easy acceptance of the Queen's shilling, but now
he thought of nothing but the wars, and his spirits
rose so high that the sergeant on duty had to
promise him an arrest before he could be reduced
to order.

At night the room where we slept was a perfect
Babel. Men talked of nothing but the voyage and
the campaign that was to follow, and wished the
marching orders had been for to-morrow instead of
next week.

Suddenly (and I don't exactly know why) my
master remembered my existence, and I heard him
call out,

1 Does any of you boys know anything about a
watch, at all ? '

1 Duck Downie does,' replied one or two voices.

' Duck Downie, me jewil, will ye step this way
just ? ' called out my master, ' and cast your eye on
my watch ? *

The gentleman rejoicing in the name of Duck

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 283

Downie was a ferocious-looking little fellow who
had, before he decided to devote his energies to
the extermination of her Majesty's foes, been a
watchmaker's apprentice. He came, forward at
the invitation, and cast his eye in the direction
indicated. It was evidently the first time he had
known that Paddy so much as owned a watch ; for
he stared hard at me, and then said with a knowing
wink,

' Did he struggle much ? '

' Faith and he did a wee bit, Duck, but so did I
too, ye see/ said Paddy, entering into the joke.

' Let's have a look at him/ said Duck, taking me
and stripping the coat off my back. ' Give us the

key/

' The kay ! ' said Paddy, whose notions of a watch's
interior were delightfully vague ; ' sure there's no kay.
Here, Edward I will ye lend Mister Downie a kay ! '

The youth addressed as Edward fumbled in his
pocket and pulled out the key of his locker, which
he handed to my master.

' That's the boy I Here's a kay, Duck darlint,
since ye want one.'

Duck was rude enough to laugh immoderately at
this — so much so, that my master, who was uncon-
scious of a joke, grew quite angry.

' Ef that's all ye can do — gape like an ould
moneybox — -I can do that as well myself ; so hand up
the watch I '

Duck Downie laughed again at this, and then said,

' I want the key of the watch, puddin'-head, not
this thing 1 '

284 THE ADVENTURES OF

' Arrak, it's got no kay, I tell ye. Wkat 'ud it
want a kay for ? '

Duck laughed again at this.

'Paddy/ said he, 'next time you borrow a gentle-
man's watch be sure you ask 'im for the key, do you
hear ? You want the key to wind the thing up
that's why he don't go.'

Paddy, who had sense enough to see that Mr.
Downie knew more about a watch than he did, held
his peace, and took no trouble to refute the imputation
on the way in which he had come by me.

Duck Downie having, with some difficulty, borrowed
a watch-key, w r ound me up, greatly to my delight and
that cf mv master. It was delicious to feel the blood
tingling through my veins once more, and to have my
heart beat again with renewed animation. My masters
glee was only equalled by his astonishment. He
looked at first as if he suspected Duck Downie of
being in league with supernatural powers ; but
when that eminent mechanic took the trouble to
explain to him the value of the operation he had
just performed on me, Paddy without a word rushed
out, at the risk of all sorts of penalties, into the
town, and knew no peace till he had possessed
himself of a ' kay,' which henceforth became the
inseparable companion of me and the watered
ribbon.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 285

CHAPTER XXVII

How I made a long journey, and reached the

happiest moment of my life.

NE morning, in the autumn of the same year, a
small cluster of men standing on the deck of the
troopship "Lizard," as she tumbled lazily forward over
the waves, descried in the far horizon before them a
dim low line of blue. My master was one of this
cluster, and having recovered from the depression
which had afflicted both his spirits and his stomach
during the early part of the voyage, now celebrated
the ' discovery of India ' with a cry so outlandish,
and other manifestations of joy so extravagant (one
of which was pitching one of the sergeants' cap?
overboard) that he was instantly summoned before
the officer in command, and ordered to remain below
for the next twelve hours. This was, I need hardly
say, a disappointment to both of us.

All day long we heard overhead the crowding of
footsteps, the clanking of chains, and the banging
about of baggage. The men were paraded on deck
and one or two servants down where we were were
very busy polishing the officers' swords. Altogether

K

286 THE ADVENTURES OF

it looked as if we were not intended to remain an
hour longer in Bombay than was necessary before
marching to the front. Indeed, the arrival of a news-
paper on board, along with the pilot, created such a
ferment among the officers and men that it was evident
something unusual had happened since we last heard
the news.

When, towards evening, my master was allowed
once more to come on deck, we were not long in
discovering the cause of all this.

The Indian Mutiny, which had just broken out
when we left England, had suddenly assumed
enormous and hideous dimensions. The rebels, taking
advantage of their first success, seemed to have
gone mad with a most cruel madness. Helpless
Englishwomen and children had been massacred
and outraged ; gallant Englishmen, overpowered by
numbers, had been put to shameful deaths. One by
one our strongholds had been surprised and cap-
tured ; and, carrying all before them, the traitors
bade fair to leave England not so much as a foothold
in India.

This was enough to make the blood of the tamest
among us boil with indignation, and, as the dreadful
truth, bit by bit, dawned on our gallant fellows, their
impatience became almost beyond control. My master
was in sad peril of another arrest by reason of his

excitement.

' Show me the spalpeens I Show me 'em ! ' roared
he, almost beside himself. ' Let me at 'em, Duck, ye
blackguard ; let me at 'em ! '

And so saying he seized Mr. Downie, who happened

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 287

to be standing near him, and nearly shook the bones
out of that unoffending hero's body.

' Do ye hear ? ' roared Paddy, quite out of his 6enses.

' I hear,' said Downie, coolly, proceeding to take off
his coat and tuck up his shirt-sleeves as if he were
going to wash his hands.

* What's the gossoon about at all ? ' cried my
master, taken aback by this unexpected reply to his
question.

' On'y going to smash you ! * calmly replied the
imperturbable Duck, beginning to spar — * so come on,
mv lad 1 '

That Patrick would have joyfully accepted the
invitation I have no doubt, had not an accident at
that moment befallen him.

A trolly coming up behind, took him off his feet.
To recover himself, he took a spring forward, and
landed full on the top of the junior ensign of the
regiment, a mild youth with a very little voice, and
for the next minute the two were rolling, one on the
top of the other, over and over, along the wet deck,
amid the laughter of everybody.

By the time Paddy had picked himself up, and
helped the poor young ensign to his feet, his ardour
was sufficiently damped He apologized with as good
grace as he could to his late victim, and made very
humble excuses to the sergeant in charge, who,
fortunately for him, had witnessed that the affair was
an accident.

Duck Downie, however, with his coat off and his
sleeves tucked up, still awaited his man as if nothing
had happened, and seemed surprised that Paddy was

288 THE ADVENTURES OF

not as eager as before for the fray. The latter, however,
quite sobered by this time, merely cried out in the
hearing of everybody,

' Arrah ! Downie, darlint, ye may put on your coat,
because I forgive you this onst ; but, man dear, don't
do it again 1 ' and was thereby considered by everybody
to have had the best of the whole adventure.

Under such dignified circumstances did we set foot
on Indian soil.

The reader will be surprised that I have never yet
remembered that when I last heard of him, Charlie,
my first master, was in India. I did remember it
often and often — during the voyage and after landing.
And yet I quite despised myself for imagining (as I
did) that the next white face I saw would surely ba
his. India is a big place — a dreadfully big place

and the chances of finding any one particular person
there are about as great as of discovering a needle in
a haystack. He might have left India long ago ; he
might have fallen in the massacres of the past few
months ; he might be somewhere right across the
continent. And so, though I could not get rid
of a vague sort of expectation, during the first few
days of my being in India, I always laughed at
myself for a simpleton for thinking such a chance
possible.

However, we had no time for thinking just then.
From the moment we landed in Bombay, and for a
week or two afterwards, we were continually on the
move. Long forced marches under a broiling sun, it.
was enough to wear out any ordinary troops. But
our men, and the column to which they were now

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 289

attached, formed no ordinary body of men. They
were Englishmen hastening to the rescue, and nothing
on earth could stop them. It was strange how slowly
the news of those stirring times came to our ears.
One day we heard with a horror that I can never
describe of that foul massacre at Cawnpore, where in
cold blood gentle English ladies and innocent children
had been brutally massacred, and their bodies flung
into a well. Then the news came of the achievements
of that wonderful army of relief led by Haveiock.
Day after day came the news of his march on Lucknow,
where our besieged fellow-countrymen lay. Every
one knows of that heroic march. Inch by inch,
almost, that handful of men fought their way, fighting
a battle a day, and never yielding a step.

One day a horseman galloped into our camp in a

great state of excitement. As he flung himself from
his horse he shouted something, but we only caught
the two words, ' Haveiock,' ' Lucknow.' It waa
enough. Lucknow was saved 1 There rose cheer
upon cheer at the news, and shout upon shout. Men
and officers alike waved their hats and shook hands.
Paddy, as usual, let his feelings get the better of him,
and nearly broke Larry's spine with the joyful thump
he gave it ; indeed, it is safe to say our men were
almost as proud as if they had themselves achieved
the relief.

Presently, however, there spread a rumour that

though Lucknow was saved, it was not yet relieved.
Haveiock had fought his way in, but until help
arrived, he, too, would be a prisoner within its walls ;
and almost in the same breath came the grand news '

2go THE ADVENTURES OF

our column was the one destined for this glorious
work ! How our hearts beat 1 What mattered it now
how long the marches were, and how grilling the sun ?
' Lueknow ' was the cry ; and that magio word
sustained us in every hardship and peril.

We reached Cawnpore at last, and there joined
Sir Colin Campbell's force. The sight of this house
of murder was simply maddening to the men. They
left the place next morning with a sort of shudder,
and set their faces towards Lueknow. It was not till
we were well on the march that I had leisure to look
about me and notice how our force was increased.
Several now regiments were with us, and the com-
mander-in-chief and his staff and heavy guns and
siege trains accompanied the march. With the excep-
tion of a few skirmishes, my master had yet to learn
what a battle was. We crept on, halting sometimes,
and sometimes pushing on, until one jubilant afternoon
the distant walls of Lueknow appeared in sight. Then
indeed our brave fellows began to breathe again.
To-morrow would bring them to the city walls,
and — what was equally after their hearts— face to
face with the enemy. We bivouacked here fur
the night. *

Now it happened on this particular night that my
master was on sentinel duty for the first time in his
life, and mightily proud of his charge. There he
stood as stiff as a poker, with his rifle at his side, and
I verily believe would have thought nothing of run-
ning his bayonet through the body of the comman-
der-in-chief if ho had presented himself without
the password.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 291

Patrick was not a dreamer ; and as ho lo oked
across in the direction of Lucknow I don't suppose
his meditations were of the loftiest kind. He knew
there would be a fight to-morrow, and so he was
happy ; he knew duty might call him to action even
to-night, and so he kept a very sharp look-out at
his post ; but otherwise his mind was profoundly
untroubled. It was not so with me. On the eve of
the battle I could not but feel that in a few hours
I might be ownerless, and in a dead man's pocket ;
and, as I looked back upon my strangely eventful
life, I sighed, and half hoped, if he were slain, they
would in mercy bury me with him, and so end my
eares once and for all. Little I knew !

It was scarcely ten o'clock when Paddy was
startled by approaching footsteps. They belonged to
an officer of our force who was returning at this hour
from an outpost. Paddy eyed him suspiciously, and
even when he gave the word looked disappointed
at not having the privilege of using his bayonet
upon him. Just as he was going on his way,
the officer turned and said, in a voice which startled

me,

' Is it ten yet, my man ? '

Why did the voice startle me ? I could not 6ee
the speaker's face, but as he spoke I fancied myself
back in the Randlebury schoolroom, and my memory
saw a bright-eyed boy I had known once whom I
could almost have believed to be the speaker of these
few words. Strange what fancies take possession of
one 1 Patrick, as he had a watch, and had by this
time learned trm mysterious art of telling the time,

292 THE ADVENTURES OF

was not the man to answer such a question as this
at random.

* Hould my gun, cap'n/ he said, ' till I sthrike a

light/

Fancy a sentinel asking an officer to hold his gun I
I knew enough of military discipline to make me
tremble at the thought of what would become of my
unceremonious master.

But the officer, instead of flying into a rage, took
the rifle and laughed. That laugh reminded me more
than ever of Randlebury.

' You're a pretty fellow,' he said. ' Is that the
manners they teach you at home/

' I ax yer pardon, colonel, but '

Here the officer laughed again — and oh ! how my
heart beat as I heard him. ' If I stay here much
longer I shall get promoted to general, I suppose/
said he. ' Look sharp and tell me the time/

Patrick, without another word, produced a light.
The officer's face was half turned as he did so, and
I could not catch his features, but as he turned im-
patiently towards the sentinel the light fell full upon
it, and with a bound of astonishment I recognized
in the swarthy, soldierly officer before me, no
other than my oldest and dearest master, Charlie
Newcome, of Randlebury.

The strange presentiment, then, was true — I had
found him after so long a time I But what if he
should not see me \ What torment to be so near
and yet so far ! And how was it likely he would
take notice of a common private's watch, and if he
did, how was it likely at this distance of time he

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 293

would remember poor me ? Jim, I know, had told
him of the strange way in which I had come into his
hands, and would certainly have also told him about
losing me. He must, therefore, long ago have given
up all thoughts about me, or if he ever remembered
me it would be as one dead.

My master took me out and held me up to the light.
^ * It'll be about five minutes past ten, your honour,
by my watch.'

' Thank you. Good— hullo I *

He had seen me I His eyes were suddenly riveted
upon me, and he seemed glued to the spot where
he stood.

' Did your honour plaze to spake ? ' asked Paddy,
proceeding to put me back into his pocket.

' My old watch I ' cried Charlie, springing forward,
and" catching hold of my master's hand. * Give it
to me!'

Paddy's surprise was unbounded. At first he
deemed the man mad, then drunk, then gradually
it dawned upon him this was not an officer at all,
but a highwayman in disguise, seeking to take ad-
vantage of his solitude to rob him.

In an instant he sprang back, and, seizing his rifle,
levelled the bayonet to within an inch of Charlie's
heart.

( Now, ye thievin' blackguard,' said he, ' move an
inch and I'll stick ye like a pig. Axrah ! but ye came
to the wrong boy when ye thought to play your
tricks on me I Stan' still now, or as sure as you're
alive you're a dead man ; ' and he gave Charlie a
suggestive touch with the point of his weapon, which

294 THE ADVENTURES OF

showed plainly he had every intention of being as
good as his word.

Here was a predicament I and I could do nothing
to help.

Charlie, fairly penned in a corner, was at a loss
what to say or do. He began in an angry strain,

' Don't be a fool, sir ; do you '

* Howld yer tongue I J roared Paddy, giving another
poke with his bayonet.

Then Charlie attempted to laugh, which enraged
the sentry all the more.

' Is it mock me, ye would, as well as rob me, ye
foul-mouthed spalpeen, you ? ' he cried.

* I don't want to rob you/ put in Charlie.

' Faith and I'll see ye don't,' retorted the Irishman

1 Listen to me an instant/ besought Charlie.

1 The sorra a word. Ye shall say it all before the
gineral the morrow, for there I'll take ye.'

For some moments Charlie stood in this awkward
fix, not daring to stir, or even to speak, and with
every prospect of spending the night with a bayonet
point within an inch of his body.

Suddenly, however, a brilliant idea occurred to him.
If I really was his old watch, as he fancied, this man
had possibly found me where Halliday had lost me.
It was a bare chance every way, but he determined
to try it.

1 So you are from Seatown ! ' he suddenly ex-
claimed.

The rifle literally dropped from the astonished

sentry's hand.

' Who told ye that ? ' he almost shrieked.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 295

1 Never mind,' said Charlie, following up the ad-
vantage, and softly stepping out of his corner. ' It's
two years since you left, isn't it ? '

Patrick was * dumfoundered.' This man must be in
league, surely, with the powers of darkness 1

* Now do you know why I want that watch ? ' said
Charlie sternly, at the same time quietly picking up
the dropped rifle. The tables were fairly turned now.
The wretched Patrick, whose conscience had more
than once smitten him about the way in which he had
become possessed of me, looked the picture of terror

■not at the bayonet, but at the man who held it.
He drew me from his pocket with trembling hands,
and holding me out at arm's length, cried,

1 Arrah, arrah ! take him, gineral, take him. How
was I to know you was the gentleman dropped him
there ? Who'd have '

By this time Charlie had seized me and taken me
to the light. In an instant ho stripped me of my
coat, and there, with bounding heart, read his own
initials, scratched years ago with his own boyish hand,
in the dormitory of Randlebury.

' It is it I' he shouted ; ' my old watch I Who
would have thought it possible I '

Then turning to the trembling Paddy, he said, in a
voice almost unsteady in its eagerness,

f My man, what will you sell me this watch for ? *

Paddy looked more astonished than ever.

' Sure it's your honour's own.'

4 It was once, but it's yours now. But I'll give you
a ten-pound note for him and a gold watch besides if
you'll let me have him back.'

296 THE ADVENTURES OF

Imagine Paddy's astonishment.

1 Sure Duck Downie says it's not worth thirtj

shillings *

1 Who cares for Duck Downie ? ' shouted Charlie

4

pulling out his purse. ' Here's the money, and if yoi
come to Lieutenant Newcome's tent when you are of]
duty you shall have the watch.'

And so saying, and not waiting for another word
he darted off, with me still in his hands, leaving
Paddy fairly stupefied with amazement, and wit!
only presence of mind enough left to pick up his riil<
and make a royal salute to the retreating form of mj
first and last and dearest master.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 297

CHAPTER XXVIII

How I saved my master's life, and retired

from active service.

MAY with truth say, I reached that night the
happiest moment in my life.

Indeed, as the young officer walked on, with me
held tight in his hand, it would be hard to say which
of us two was the happier.

Charlie's soldier life had not turned out as happily
as, long ago, he had pictured it to himself. Away
from home, and with comparatively few friends, he
had felt himself losing somewhat of his freshness and
boyish enthusiasm, and settling down rather to habits
of a humdrum commonplace official. Books he had
very few, and congenial society still less. Quartered
as he had been during the first two years in dull
country stations, he had grown weary of the routine
of everyday life, and longed for the sight of fresh faces,
fresh scenes, fresh occupation.

After a while this desire was gratified in his removal
to Calcutta. But if he had suffered from dul-
ness and weariness before, he was now in danger of
going to another extreme. In his first joy at getting

298 THE ADVENTURES OF

back into lively society he rushed -with ardour into all
the attractions and gaieties of the capital. Not that
Charlie was a fellow ever to make the same mistakes
as Tom Drift. He never associated with companions
he knew to be bad, or allowed himself to be led into
scenes which were in the slightest degree discreditable.
But he did enter rather too readily into the frivolities
of his new quarters, at the expense of his peace of
mind. His popularity was hi3 greatest snare. Every-
where he w T ent he became a favourite. People were
eager to get him to join their parties, and he was
often enough too good-natured to refuse. And thus
Charlie wasted much of his time, and in the end
found himself far more dissatisfied with himself than
in the quiet monotony of his up-country duties.

Do not let me do him injustice, reader, in my

account of him during those few weeks at Calcutta.
He was gay but not fast, frivolous though not dissi-
pated. His errors were errors of unprofitableness,
but never of viciousness. Even in his most frivolous
moments he had never been anything but a gentle-
man and a good fellow. Still, it had been unsatis-
factory, and he knew it to be so in his inmost soul.

In the midst of this life came the mutiny, and, like
hundreds of others, Charlie leapt at the call of duty,
and flung to the winds all those attractions which had
held him captive during the weeks of his idleness.
Like hundreds of others his blood boiled at the
tragedies of that awful time, and now, of all the
rescuing host, there was not one who loved his own
life less, or his country's glory more, than Charlie
Newcome.

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 299

And thus it was with him when I found him.

But to-night, whatever may have been the memories,
and hopes, and regrets which secretly animated his
breast in finding himself again possessed of his boyish
treasure and the companion of so many of his happiest
days, Charlie Newcome had no leisure to sit down
and spend his time in passive contemplation He had
a report to make to his colonel, and an important
despatch to carry to the commander-in-chief. Then
there was the ammunition to be served out among
his men, and he had to superintend the process. And
there were the plans for next day's assault to be talked
over with his brother officers, and the various detach-
ments for that duty to be selected. So that Charlie
was a busy man that night. But with what a light
heart ho laboured ! Among his occupations he did
not forget the gold watch, but had the satisfaction of
making Paddy the happiest man (but one) in the
camp.

Thus, first with one thing, then another, the night
wore on ; and, when towards morning he lay down
on his camp bed for a hurried rest, he fell asleep like
a child, whistling one of the old Randlebury songs,
and with me, as of old. under his pillow.

At the first note of the bugle he sprang from his
couch, and putting me in my old abode, next Ins heart,
Balhed out to see the preparations for the advance. It
was generally known we were to make a dash for the
approaches to Lucknow this day ; and at the prospect
of the attack the troops hailed the signal to get under
arms with enthusiasm. It was plain to see, by the
alacrity with which the men worked, that my master

300 THE ADVENTURES OF

was a prime favourite in his own company ; indeed,
such was their promptitude that we stood ready and
waiting long before the order to march arrived.

During this interval, if Charlie was seized with a
desire to know the time once, he was seized twenty
times ; and each time a mere glance was not enough
to satisfy him. How natural it all seemed, and how
like old times !

Then came the longed-for signal, and with a cheer
the men set their faces towards Lucknow.

Now, the reader must not expect I am going to
describe military operations for his edification. I
know nothing about columns and countermarches,
and echelons and skirmishing ; how could a watch,
hid under a scarlet jacket, be expected to do so ?

True, I had eyes that could penetrate any number
of scarlet jackets, but what good was that when I
knew about as much of the art of war as I did of
candle-making 1

But there are some things in the events of that
memorable day which I shall remember as long as
I live.

After about an hour's march we were suddenly
halted, and almost at the same moment there came
the sullen boom of a gun ahead. I could feel Charlie's
heart leap at the sound. It was the enemy at last ;
and now the fate of Lucknow was to be decided.

A horseman dashed up to the head of our column
and called out to our colonel, in a voice loud enough
for us all to hear, ' Bring up your battalion.' Next
moment we were advancing in double quick time
through a lane of troops to the front. There two

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 301

other regiments stood waiting, and almost the instant
we arrived the whole body moved forward at a run.
It was an exciting moment. The enemy's guns
sounded louder and more frequent ahead, and drop-
ping shot at either side announced that our danger
was not all in front. The pace was kept up for a
hundred yards or so, until we reached a cluster of
trees, in whose shelter the column was halted to get
breath. The fire in front still kept up, and through the
smoke I thought I could discern the dim outline of a
low building, not five hundred yards distant. At
this moment Charlie and the other officers were sum-
moned to the front for orders. They were brief and
to the point.

' Straight for the fort, there I ' said the commanding
officer, ' the shortest way you can take your men ! '

It was an order that meant certain death to scores
of those brave fellows ; yet when they had heard it they
cheered as schoolboys cheer for a holiday.

Again we stood waiting. The officers with their
swords drawn stepped in front. The men quickly
loaded and fixed bayonets, and then came the shout,

' Forward I '

As we cleared the trees we burst full in the face of
the enemy's fire. For a moment the balls whizzed
harmlessly over our heads, then there was a crash on
the ground before us, and, as we rushed on, the men
parted on either side to avoid stepping over a dying
man. It was awful ; and every step we took grew
more and more fatal. Under that withering fire men
went down by the dozen ; yet still the column rushed
on. The front rank broke into gaps, which the rear

302 THE ADVENTURES OF

rank men dashed forward to fill, till they themselves
fell. And still on we rushed. Officers, too, every-
where to the front, dropped one by one ; but still we
never checked our pace. The sullen walls of the fort
stood clear before us and poured upon us an unceasing
shower of bullet and ball. In a minute our foremost
men would be at the walls.

' Forward now I follow me I ' I heard Charlie cry ;
and looking round noticed for the first time that
the captain of his company was missing. The men
cheered by way of answer, and their run broke into a
rush as they followed him under the guns. Others
were at the fort before us, and the storm had already
begun. Heedless of wounds, heedless of peril, the
men swept towards the breach, and called on those
behind to come on. Charlie was one of the earliest of
our battalion there, and already his feet were in the
place, and he was waving to his men to come up
when—

I felt a dull crushing sensation. My nerves col-
lapsed ; my senses left me. Speech, sight, hearing,
all failed me in an instant ; a strange darkness came
over me, and then I was conscious of nothing.

?ji JK. £p *Jt nC

When my senses slowly and wearily recovered I was
still lying in my master's pocket in the place where he
had fallen at the storming of the breach. Firing was
still going on all around, but the shouts of our men rose
now from inside the fort instead of outside. And what
shouting it was ! The enemy's guns ceased as if by
magic, and the distant sounds of firing showed plainly

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 303

enough that the main body, now that we had silenced
the fort, was resuming its march on Lucknow.

All this flashed through me as my senses gradually
returned, and before even I had time to contemplate
my own condition. What a wreck I was I A helpless
cripple past all healing, of no use to any one, and
utterly incapable of resuming the ordinary duties of
life. But almost before I could reab'se this, another
care flashed through my mind and drove out every
other.

My master I What of him ? There he lay, motion-
less and pale, w T ith his blue eyes closed, and a little
stream of blood trickling down his chest. Could he
be dead ?

Anxiously I listened if his heart still beat. At first all
seemed silent as death. Then there seemed a slight
quiver, and as I listened still, a faint throb. He lived
still ! How I longed for help to come I

And before long it came. Two soldiers of Charlie's
regiment came out of the fort and walked straight
towards us.

' It was close to the breach he dropped,' said one.

' Come on, then,' said the other, ' and we may be in

time.'

They were not long in finding the object of their
6earch, and leant eagerly over him.

4 He's dead, poor fellow 1 ' said the first ; ' shot
right through the heart ! '

' So he is,' said the other. ' It must have — wait a
bit!' cried he, in sudden excitement. 'Feel here,
Tom, quick ! he's alive yet I Oh, if we could only get
hold of a doctor 1 9

304 THE ADVENTURES OF

1 Is there one about at all ? '

( Not that I know of, unless the Major knows what

to do/

Just then there came up a gaunt man, in an undress
uniform, who, seeing that they knelt over a wounded
man, said,

* Is he alive ? *

* It's all he is, sir,' replied one of the men ; * and
we're wondering how to get a doctor to him.'

' Let me see,' said the stranger, approaching the body.

He knelt beside it and gently removed the coat
from the wound.

' It looks as if he must be shot through the heart.
Stay a bit, though, here's a watch I ' and he pulled me
softly out of the pocket. As he did so I looked up at
him. Surely I knew his face ! Surely somewhere I
had seen that troubled frightened face before I Then
I remembered Seatown Gaol 1 Could this be Tom
Drift here in India, and kneeling beside his old school-
fellow's body ?

It was indeed Tom Drift I But he neither recog-
nized me nor the wounded man before him ; indeed
he was too busy examining the latter's wound to look
very closely at his face. As he removed the waistcoat
he uttered an exclamation of astonishment.

' A most wonderful thing,' he said ; ' the bullet,
which must have been a spent one, has struck his
watch and turned aside. A most wonderful escape ! *

And then he produced a box of instruments, with
one of which he probed the wound, and after some
trouble extracted the bullet. Then, bandaging up
the place, he said,

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 305

' He may do now, but he has lost a lot of blood;
Let him lie here a bit, and presently, if he seema better,
move him into the fort. I will see him again this
evening.'

And so saying, he passed on to the next prostrate
figure.

Towards evening the two men tenderly lifted their
officer in their arms and carried him inside the fort,
where a rude hospital had been fitted up. Here
Charlie, who, after the extraction of the bullet and
staunching of blood, had shown symptoms of recovery,
opened his eyes, and found himself able to say a few
words to those round him. And when they told him
how I had probably saved his life his face lit up with
a most triumphant smile, and he asked that I might
ba put into his hand.

As he lay there, scarcely strong enough to speak,
and fondling me in his fingers, the doctor entered the
hospital.

He came straight to Charlie's bed. My master's
eyes were closed when Tom first reached his side ;
and I could see by the face of the latter that he was
still as far from recognizing his old schoolfellow as
ever. But directly Tom softly lifted the clothes in
order to examine his wound, the patient woke and
opened his eyes. They rested for a moment on the
doctor's face, and then, with a sudden flush and start,
he half raised himself in his bed, and exclaimed,

• Tom Drift, is it you 1 *

The doctor thus unexpectedly hearing his own
name pronounced, turned pale, and started back as ii
he had been shot. The scared, terrified look returned

306 THE ADVENTURES OF

to his face, and for an instant he seemed as if he
would rush from the place. But only for an instant.
As he looked again on the face of his patient a
strange expression came over his own. Wonder,
doubt, joy, succeeded each other in rapid succession,
and then all of a sudden it flashed upon him who
this was.

* Charlie ! ' he exclaimed, trembling with astonish-
ment ; and next moment the poor prodigal was on
his knees beside his friend's bed, sobbing, with his
head buried in his hands.

Don't laugh at him, reader, for thus forgetting him-
self. Tom Drift had been through many trials you
know nothing about, and out of those trials he had
come broken in spirit and as humble as a child. You
might have had more regard for appearances, perhaps,
and controlled your emotion genteelly ; but, as I have
said before, Tom Drift was not anything like so
strong-minded as you. So he knelt there and sobbed ;
and Charlie, as he lay, took his hand into his own,
and held it.

Presently ho said, softly, ' Tom ! '

Tom looked up and rose to his feet.

4 What, old fellow ? '

4 Look here, Tom 1 ' said Charlie, showing me.

At the sight of me, bruised and battered as I was,
Tom's feelings overcame him again. He seized me
eagerly, and looked long and tenderly into my face ;
then his tears came again, and once more he sunk
on his knees at Charlie's side and buried his face in
his hands.

The place was getting dark. The noisa of voices

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 307

outside and the distant roar of guns slowly died away ;
the guards for the night were called out, and one by
one soldier and invalid fell asleep after their hard
day's toil. But Tom Drift never moved from Charlie's
bedside, nor did Charlie, by word or movement,
disturb him. In the silence of that night I seemed to
be back in the past — when, years ago, I first knew
these two. The dreary hospital changed, in my
imagination, into the old Kandlebury dormitory.
These beds all round were occupied not by wounded
Bcldiers, but by soundly-sleeping boys, worn out with
sports or study. And the two between whom I lay
were no longer suffering men, but the light-hearted
lads of long ago. I could almost fancy myself ticking
through the silent watches ; and when now and then
the fingers that held me closed over me, or fondled
me tenderly, I could almost have believed I heard the
low sweet whistling of an innocent boy as he furtively
turned in his waking moments to his father's precious

gift.

It all seemed so strangely natural that as I woke
from my dream it required an effort to remember
where I really was. All was silent around me. I
peered first at my master, then ci Tom Drift ; they
were both asleep — sleeping, perhaps, as simply as ever
they did in those bygone days— Tom kneeling still
by the bedside with his head upon his arms, and
Charlie turned towards him with one hand upon his
friend's, and I — I lay between them.

Thus the sultry Indian night passed, and then at
the little window opposite there came a faint gleam
of light.

308 THE ADVENTURES OF

Charlie woke first, and, laying his hand gently on
Tom's arm, said, ' Tom Drift, old fellow I '

With a start and a bound Tom was awake and on
his feet, staring in a bewildered way round him.

At last his eyes fell on Charlie, and he remembered
where he was. ' I was asleep and dreaming/ he
said.

' So was 1/ said Charlie — and / could almost guess
what their dreams had been.

1 Now, Tom/ said Charlie, * you must look to my
wound/

-hin

forgotten it all this time ! '

botherin

master.

.kin

>wn

his weary eves, ' the day is breakin

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 309

CHAPTER XXIX

Which brings my adventures to a close.

EADER, be my companion in one scene more,

and my story is done.
A month or two ago there was a grand merry-
making at the house of one Charles Newcome, Esq.,
late captain in her Majesty's army, to celebrate the

tenth birthday of his son, Master Thomas James

Newcome.

juvenile

included, of course, the gallant captain's two little
girls and his younger son, that most terrible of all
Turks, Charlie the younger. Then there were all
the little boys and girls living in the square, and
many others from a distance, and one or two big
boys and girls, and one or two young gentlemen
who stroked their chins as if something was to be
felt there, and one or two young ladies who would
not take twice of sponge-cake, for fear of looking
as if they were hungry. But besides these there
were a few grown-up people present, whom I must
not forget to name. Naturally the gallant captain
was one, and the gallant captain's lady was another ;
and then there were the last-named lady's two
brothers there, one a clergyman called the Rev.

3 io THE ADVENTURES OF

James Halliday, and the other (and elder) Mr.
Joseph Halliday, a civil engineer with a ferocious
pair of whiskers. And, to complete the party, there
was present a grave, anxious-looking gentleman by
the name of Mr. Drift, a surgeon.

These all sat apart and looked on while the young
folk enjoyed themselves. And how the young folk
did enjoy themselves that night I What shouting
and laughter there was, what a jingling of the piano,
what hiding in corners, what romping on the stair-
case ! And the round games, and the charades,
and the family posts I Oh dear me, I'm an old
watch, and I've gone through a good many noisy
scenes, but I never remember such a racket as this.

And how the young folk besieged the elder and
compelled them to join in the fun. There was papa
down on his hands and knees with half-a-dozen
youngsters on his back. And there was Uncle
Joseph performing tricks of conjuring before a
select audience ; and Mr, Drift telling stories to
another ; and as for the reverend Uncle Jim, he was
made blind man, and had his long coat-tails pulled ;
and, strange to say, he never caught anybody all the
time. And then the supper I who shall describe
that ? the clattering of dishes, the rattle of knives
and forks, the banging of crackers, the peals of
laughter, and the cross-fire of chaff.

Alas ! all good things must come to an end, and
so did this party. One by one the little guests said
good-bye, and after they had gone the little family
of children and elders was left alone. Though it
was past eleven, the little urchin Charlie insisted on

A THREE GUINEA WATCH 311

clambering on to Mr. Drift's knee, to hear one last
story, and the little girls besieged their uncles, and
put their arms round their necks, and besought their
intercession with mamma to gain them another half-
hour's respite down stairs.

1 Charlie/ said Tom Drift, * this little fellow if
worrying me for a story. Suppose you tell one. 1

1 Oh yes,' shouted that small chorus. ' Oh yes I
papa, please tell us a story I '

1 Hear, hear I ' said Uncle Joe.

1 Fire away/ said Uncle Jim.

1 Remember, it must be quite a short one, Charles/
said mamma.

Charlie Newcome the elder looked puzzled for a
minute, and fidgeted uncomfortably in his eeat.
Then he turned to his eldest boy, and said,

* Tom, open that cabinet there and bring me the
watch that is under the glass-case.'

' The old, ugly watch, papa ? ' asked the boy,
running oil on his errand.

* Yes, the old, ugly watch/ said papa, with a queer
sort of smile.

The boy brought me. I was taken out of my case,
and lay there in his open hand.

1 Once upon a time/ began papa — and what a hush
fell on that little company 1 — ' once upon a time there
was a little boy ' — why was it every one but the
children looked bo grave ? and why did Mr. Drift
push his chair back into the shadow ? why, even,
did papa's voice tremble now and then as he went
on, and caught the eye first of one and then another

of his listeners ?

3 i2 A THREE GUINEA WATCH

That night he told my story — not as I have told
it to you. There was not much about Mr. Drift in
the story he told, and a great deal less about him-
self than there might have been. But as he went
on these children crowded round me and looked
with awe upon my battered body, and read with
reverence those quaintly-scratched initials, and as
they followed me in imagination from one master
to another, and from one peril to the next, ending
up with the famous battle before Lucknow, they
forgot I was old and ugly, and I gradually appeared
to their little eyes one of the greatest treasures which
their father's house contained.

1 And here he lies in my hand, children/ concluded
papa ; * and if you love him as much as I do you
must be very fond of him. And now, good-night,
all of you/

END

Printed by Butuer & Tawmkr, From* ani London.