That game of hockey caused a great deal of ill-feeling among the less
generous and most ill-disposed of the big fellows towards the younger
ones who had so thoroughly beaten them. Blackall bullied more than
ever, and several others imitated his example. They had also already
begun to carry out their precious scheme of fagging. Some of the little
fellows thought it very good fun at first to obey a bigger one, provided
he did not order them to do anything very difficult, or likely to bring
punishment down upon themselves. Grown bold by impunity, the faggers
resolved to divide the boys of the classes below them among themselves
as fags by lots. Of course it was the very worst plan that could have
been devised; indeed, tyrants generally do form very clumsy and very bad
schemes for keeping those weaker than themselves in subjection. The
younger boys might willingly enough have served older friends who had
been kind to them and had protected them, but it was preposterous to
suppose that without force they would obey any big boy who might choose
to order them. It was some time before this scheme became known to
Ernest Bracebridge and his friends. As he never listened to the tales
and tittle-tattle of the school--indeed, he found that the current
stories were generally absurd exaggerations of the truth--he might have
remained some time longer ignorant, had not Bouldon come to him one
afternoon, after school, in a state of great indignation, saying that
Blackall had called him up and ordered him to go to a shop two miles
off, to buy him a tongue, some rolls, and other eatables.
"When I expostulated, he had the audacity to tell me that I should clean
his shoes if he wished it," exclaimed Tom, with a savage laugh. "And
what do you think? that I was his fag, that I was awarded to him, and
that he intended to work me thoroughly? I asked him by whom I was
awarded to him? He replied, by a vote of my seniors and betters; and
that if I did not work willingly I should be compelled to serve him by
force. I don't remember what I said at first--I know that he called me
an impudent young scamp for my pains; I concluded by telling him that I
should consult you and Buttar and other fellows, and that if you
consented to be fags, I should not have a word to say."
"You were perfectly right--I am glad you said so," observed Ernest.
"Find Buttar, and Ellis, and Gregson, and we'll talk the matter over.
We'll mention the subject to Lemon; I know full well that he will not
wish to fag any boy, yet perhaps for the sake of a quiet life he may not
be inclined to interfere with the plans of the other big fellows.
However, I do not want him to interfere; whatever we do, we should do
ourselves; fortunately, we are well prepared for the emergency. We
number fifty fellows staunch and true. Go round and tell them to be
prepared--that something is going to happen. That will put them on the
alert. When Blackall finds that you have not obeyed his orders, and
that he will have to go supperless to bed, he will probably attack you.
Tell Eden to watch you--never for a moment to lose sight of you, and
directly he sees Blackall attack you, to come up and tell me--I'll have
all our fellows ready, and we'll rush to the rescue."
"Oh, excellent," exclaimed Bouldon, rubbing his hands; "I wish that he'd
just begin trying it on. Won't I aggravate him by what I say and do;
I'll tell him my mind more than he ever before heard it in his life."
"No, no, don't enrage him; that's not right," observed Bracebridge; but
Tom, as he went off, shook his head as if he intended to follow his own
ideas on the subject.
While Bouldon, followed at a distance by Eden, strolled about the
playground and fields as usual, hoping that Blackall would meet him,
Ernest went round to a number of boys who had combined with him to
resist any aggression which the big fellows might make upon their
rights, and told them to keep together, some in the gymnastic court, and
the rest in the fencing-room. Meantime he and Buttar, and a few others
on whose judgment he most relied, met together and consulted as to the
best course to pursue under the present emergency.
"I've an idea," said Buttar; "let us get some ropes and bind our tyrant.
He dare not interfere with me now, but I am determined that he shall
not treat others as he treated me."
Some ropes were easily found which had been used to lash up their
play-boxes. Ernest and Buttar were to be the leaders. Ernest went to
the fencing-room to take command of the boys there; Buttar to the
gymnastic court. They did not remain there idle. One company began
twisting and turning and leaping on the poles, while Ernest got his
followers to practise with their basket-sticks and single-sticks. Then
he proposed a drill, and they all fell in and went through their
exercises with as much precision as if Sergeant Dibble himself had been
present. They marched and wheeled, and formed in close order and
extended order, and various other simple manoeuvres, in very good style.
While they were thus engaged, Eden rushed into the room, exclaiming,
"Blackall has caught Bouldon, and is half-killing him; he says that he
will teach him to disobey his orders. Haste--haste, or I really believe
he will do him an injury. I never saw a fellow in such a rage."
No one needed a second summons. Bracebridge put himself at the head of
his companions, who kept their ranks, and, marching out in good order,
they met the party in the gymnastic court, whom Eden had likewise
summoned.
"Double quick march," cried Bracebridge; and the two bands rushed on
towards the extreme end of the grounds, where Eden told them the bully
had encountered poor Tom. The spot towards which they were hurrying was
separated from the rest of the grounds by a thick coppice. Several tall
trees grew about it, and it was by far the most secluded place in the
grounds. It was a favourite resort in the summer time of some of the
more studious boys, who went there to read, and, at other seasons,
Gregson and a few other boys, who were fond of the study of natural
history, used to go there to search for specimens, as Tom Bouldon used
to say, of bird's nests, beetles, bees, and wild flowers. Blackall,
also, and two or three of his class, occasionally retired there, but
neither to read nor to study natural history, but to smoke and to drink,
when he could procure liquor. Bouldon ascertained that he had gone
there on this occasion, and, anxious to bring matters to a crisis, went
round that way, passing directly in front of him.
Blackall, who was sitting alone by himself, looking at the grass, saw
his shadow slowly pass along before him. Lifting up his lack-lustre
eyes, they fell on Tom. He immediately started up, and seized him by
the collar. "Ah, my fine fellow, I've caught you at last, and all
alone. I wanted to find you, and now I'll pay you off with a thrashing
which you will remember to the end of your days."
Bouldon looked up and down to see if anybody was coming to his help. He
had missed Eden, who had, however, seen him through the trees in the
hands of Blackall, and then scampered off as fast as his legs would
carry him, his imagination somewhat supplying the particulars of the
thrashing which had not even yet begun. Bouldon struggled hard to
release himself when he found that Blackall had got hold of his collar,
for he had no wish to become a martyr unnecessarily, as he knew from
experience that his persecutor hit very hard and cruelly whenever he had
the power.
"I'll give you a chance yet," said Blackall. "Will you fag for me, or
will you not?"
"Most certainly not," answered Tom, firmly. "I'll see you at Jericho,
and ten thousand leagues further, rather than lift a finger to obey one
of your commands. There, you've got my answer."
"Then take that," exclaimed the bully, bestowing a thundering lick on
poor Tom's ear. "How do you like the taste of that? Will you obey me
now?"
Blackall generally played with his victims as a cat does with a mouse
before destroying it.
"Not I," answered Tom briefly, compressing his lips.
Another heavy box on the ears followed close upon this answer.
"Will you now?" again asked Blackall.
"No," bawled out Bouldon.
Several cuffs and blows now descended on his head and shoulders. Again
Blackall asked him if he would fag. Bouldon did not deign to answer.
"Do you hear me? Are you deaf?" thundered out the bully.
Bouldon made not the slightest reply to this question either by word or
look. The consequence was that the bully began striking away at him
right and left, till Tom felt that he was getting very severely
punished, and he could not help wishing that some relief was at hand.
He struggled as much as his strength would allow, and at last,
forgetting all the rules of prudence, he broke away, and instead of
endeavouring to escape, he clenched his fists and struck at the bully in
return. The consequence was, that he was soon knocked down on the
grass. He was not very much hurt, so when he saw Blackall about to kick
him, he sprang up in time to avoid the blow.
"Ah, you arrant coward, to think of kicking a fellow half your size when
he is on the ground!" he exclaimed, standing at a distance, however, so
that he might have time to leap out of Blackall's way. Under any
circumstances he would not have deigned to run; that is not the fashion
of any English boys I have ever met. On the contrary, he was anxious to
keep near Blackall, and to spin out the time till his friends could
arrive to his assistance. He would particularly have wished them to
find him on the ground, and Blackall engaged in kicking him. Of course
Tom's look, and attitude, and words very much increased the exasperation
of the latter, who now, springing after him, caught him again by the
collar, and began pummelling him with all his might about the ribs and
head, till his face was one mass of bumps and bruises. Still Bouldon
would not cry out for mercy, or give in. Whenever he had an opportunity
he broke away from his persecutor, and once more stood on the defensive,
returning, when he could, blow for blow. He was soon, however, again
knocked down with a blow on the forehead, which almost stunned him. He
saw the bully advancing with his foot to kick him.
"Oh, don't, don't; you'll kill me," sang out poor Tom, who really did
dread the force of the big fellow's heavy shoe, given with the full
swing of his leg.
Blackall heeded him not, and would have executed his barbarous purpose,
had he not that instant felt a heavy load fall down on his back, and a
pair of arms encircling his neck. He had once before been treated much
in the same manner, but who or what his present assailant was he could
not tell. The nails were long, and the hands not a little grimy, while
the knees of his assailant kept pressing his ribs in a most unpleasant
manner. Blackall's look of horror showed that he fully believed that he
had been seized by a big baboon, or some monster who might strangle him.
"Now at him again, Tom, and don't let him go till he has promised never
to attack you more," said a voice, which Blackall recognised as that of
Gregson.
However, Tom was this time too much hurt to get up, and he lay moaning
on the grass, anxiously wishing that some one would come to his rescue.
Gregson had, it appears, been up in a tree hunting for young squirrels
and various insects. He had remained a spectator of the fight for some
time, thinking that he could not do much good by his interference.
When, however, he saw how hard it was going with Tom, he resolved to go
to his help. Descending a tree, he climbed along one of the lower
branches, from the end of which he had easily dropped down on the
bully's back. There he clung, like the old man of the sea who clung to
the back of Sinbad the sailor. But, as I have said, Blackall was a very
powerful fellow, and after he had got over his terror at this sudden
assault, he used every means to get rid of his assailant. He could not
shake him off; and Gregson did not flinch from all the pinches and blows
behind his back which he received. At last, Blackall bethought him of
backing against a tree. Unfortunately for the young naturalist, one
with some stout branches grew near, and Blackall backed up to it, till
he bumped it with such force that he very nearly broke both his back and
his head, and he was very soon fain to let go. No sooner was he on the
ground than the bully vented all his fury on him, and knocking him over
with a blow of his ox-like fist, kicked and cuffed him till he was even
in a worse condition than Bouldon.
"I'll teach you to play your pranks on me, you young scoundrel," he
exclaimed. "However, you could not have chosen a better place, for
there is no one likely to come here to interfere with us, and I intend
to pay you both off in a way you will not fancy, let me tell you that.
My fists are rather heavy, so I do not intend to use them, lest I should
kill you outright, but I have a colt about me, of which you shall now
have a taste." Saying this, the bully pulled out of his pocket a piece
of hard rope, covered from one end to the other with hard knots.
Seizing poor Gregson, who lay on the grass even more hurt than Bouldon,
Blackall dragged him along, and placed him near his friend, and then
flourishing his formidable colt, was about to make it descend first on
the back of one and then on that of the other of his victims, when a
loud shout arrested his arm, and, looking up, he saw from both ends of
the glade a strong body of boys, in military order, advancing towards
him.
"Hold your hand, you big coward. If you dare strike either of those
fellows, well not leave a particle of skin on the flesh of your back,
let me tell you," shouted a voice in a loud tone.
One of the parties was led by Buttar, the other by Bracebridge. The
latter had spoken. Buttar uttered a similar caution; but Blackall,
seeing that only younger boys composed the approaching bands, and
fancying that they would not venture to interfere with him, resolved for
very pride not to desist from his purpose, and down came his weapon on
the backs of the two prostrate victims of his tyranny. It was
equivalent to a declaration of war to the knife.
"On, on, on," shouted Bracebridge and Buttar.
Their followers required no second appeal.
"Remember what I told you," shouted Ernest--"Each man to his duty."
The bully turned round and gazed, first on one side and then on the
other, at the approaching bands. He was observed to turn pale, even
though he flourished his colt above his head, and uttered loud threats
of vengeance against any who might dare to approach him. A scornful
laugh was the only answer he received, as the two bands advancing in
double quick time completely surrounded him, and then with a shout threw
themselves upon him. Some seized his neck, others his arms, and others
his legs, in spite of his kicks and blows, while others passing a rope
round his body he was speedily tripped up and hauled down to the ground.
He swore, and shouted, and threatened more loudly than ever.
"Gag him, gag him," suggested Buttar. "Don't let the fellow talk
blasphemy."
"I'll half murder you some day for this, you Buttar, you," cried the
bully, glaring fiercely at him.
"Pooh, pooh," was all Buttar deigned to reply. "Here, quick, a
handkerchief, and that piece of wood."
The materials for the gag were handed to Buttar, and though the bully
made several attempts to bite his fingers, he succeeded in most
effectually fixing a gag in his mouth. Still Blackall struggled
furiously; but though not one of his assailants was half his size, they
succeeded in dragging him to a tree, to the trunk of which they secured
him with the rope they had passed round his waist. Then they lashed his
hands as if he was clasping the tree, with his face to the trunk, while
his ankles were placed in a still more uncomfortable position.
"He cannot abuse us, or kick, or strike, but he can see," suggested some
one.
The hint was forthwith taken, and he was quickly blindfolded.
"We will draw lots to settle who is to colt him," said Ernest. "You
understand, my friends, that it will be better he should not know who
have been his executioners."
Lots were forthwith drawn with some ceremony. Four boys were chosen,
and they, nothing very loth, began to flourish the very weapon with
which he had just been striking their friends.
When Ernest and his party came up they found Bouldon and Gregson on the
ground, both of them so much hurt as to be scarcely able to rise.
Ernest with two or three other boys, having seen Blackall safely
secured, went to attend to them. They got water from the pond and
bathed their temples, and undid their shirt collars, and in a little
time set them up on their legs. As may be supposed, the first use they
made of their restored strength was to go and watch the proceedings
taking place with regard to Blackall. Their feelings revolted at the
thought of thrashing one who had been so lately ill-treating them. They
felt that had they done so, they would naturally be accused of being
influenced by vindictive feelings; whereas they wished that he should
understand that; the thrashing he was receiving was a lawful punishment
for the cruelty he had so long inflicted on others. The boys who had
been selected as executioners set to work very much in the fashion of
young boatswain's mates on board of a man-of-war. After one had given
five or six strokes another came on, till at last some one declared that
he had fainted. So he had, but it was chiefly through rage and
indignation. However, they took the gag out of his mouth, but the first
use he made of his restored power of speech was to abuse and threaten
them so dreadfully, that they came behind him and again clapped the gag
into his mouth. In vain he struggled. He was too securely bound to get
free. Ernest had learned, as every boy should, how to knot and splice
properly, and was unlikely to allow any slip knots to be made. When
Blackall showed that he was completely recovered, the boys who had been
appointed to flog him, once more made ready to go on with the operation,
but Ernest stopped them. His feelings revolted at thus punishing a
school-fellow, however richly he might have deserved punishment, who had
been rendered so utterly helpless.
"Stay," he cried out. "He has had enough to show him what we have the
power of doing, and the pain he has suffered may teach him in future not
to inflict pain on others. Take the gag out of his mouth, and let us
hear if he will promise to behave properly in future towards all the
younger boys of the school, to beg pardon of Bouldon for his
unwarrantable attack on him, and especially that he will promise to
abandon his absurd attempt to fag any of the boys of the school. You
hear what has been said, Blackall. Will you consent to these terms?
Take the gag out of his mouth and let him answer."
Blackall had heard every word that was said, and had he been wise, he
would have yielded to the force of circumstances; but instead of that,
he began as before to abuse and threaten Ernest and Buttar, and all the
boys whose voices he recognised, and to declare that he had a perfect
right to fag one and all of them if he chose.
"The gag! the gag! Treason! treason!" was the reply, accompanied by
loud laughter from all the party.
The gag was quickly produced; but as Blackall found it being adjusted,
his courage, or rather his obstinacy, gave way.
"What is it, do you say, that you want of me, you fellow?" he asked, in
a very much humbled tone.
Ernest repeated the terms he had before proposed.
"As to that, I do not mean to say that I am not ready to agree to your
terms," he replied; "only just mark me, you fellows. I don't think that
I am a greater bully than others, and if you fancy that I am going to
agree not to lick a fellow who is impudent, you are mistaken. I'm not
going to promise any such thing. Fagging is not in vogue, so I'll give
that up for the present, but I don't know what other big fellows will
do."
This speech of the once formidable bully was received with loud shouts
by most of the younger boys, but Ernest, who knew something more than
they did of human nature, did not put much confidence in what had been
said, still he saw that it would be politic to release him while he
remained in that humbled humour.
"Very well, Blackall," said Ernest; "we are all glad to hear what you
say, and we intend to rely on your promise; but remember that we are all
united to resist aggression, and that the moment you break your promise,
we shall take steps to punish you. Now release him."
In obedience to the orders of their leader, some of the boys cast off
the lashings which secured their prisoner to the tree, but they wisely
took care to keep him blindfolded to the last, that he might be unable
to injure them. His hands and legs being set free, they all hurried
back to their ranks, where they stood in two compact bodies as before,
bidding defiance to any attack he might venture to make on them.
"You may take your handkerchief off your eyes and go free," said Ernest.
Hearing this, the humbled bully began pulling away at the handkerchief
round his eyes, much to the amusement of the lookers-on, for he had
considerable difficulty in untying the knot, and getting it off his
head. His first movement showed clearly that he was much inclined to
break the articles of peace, but when he saw the formidable array of
boys drawn up on either side of him, with Bracebridge at the head of one
party, and Buttar at that of the other, discretion prevailed, and with a
sulky, downcast look, he turned round and walked away across the fields
in an opposite direction to that which he saw the hostile armies were
taking. Ernest suppressed the commencement of a cheer in which his
supporters very naturally showed an inclination to indulge.
"Let him go, and treat him with the silent contempt he deserves," he
observed. "He has got a lesson which he will not easily forget; but at
the same time we shall all do well not to trust him. He will not let
the matter pass without trying to revenge himself on some of us."
Blackall heard the first part of Ernest's remarks. He turned round as
if to give vent to his feelings; but not finding words to express
himself, he stamped with his foot, and continued on in the direction he
was going.
"I wonder whether he will go and complain to the Doctor of the thrashing
we have given him," exclaimed Bouldon, as they were marching homeward.
"I certainly did not expect to see him take it so tamely. I expected
that he would have fought and struggled to the last, like the rover's
crew the song talks about. Instead of that, he struck his colours in a
wonderfully short space of time."
"Oh, those bullies are always white-livered rogues," observed Buttar,
"so are nearly all the tyrants one reads about in history. Conscience
makes cowards of them all. Depend on it that he will hold his tongue,
and neither tell the Doctor nor any of his own special chums."
It was to be seen whether Buttar was right. The boys who had not united
with Ernest were surprised to see so many of his friends marching about
in order the whole afternoon; and even when tea was over, never less
than five or six of them were together. They looked about for Blackall,
but he did not make his appearance. The elder boys were excused from
coming in to tea on half-holidays, so there was nothing remarkable in
this, and none of his friends seemed to notice his absence. Of one
thing all Ernest's companions felt certain, that no attempt to fag them
would succeed while he remained at school.