GUY FINISHES UP HIS BUSINESS IN LONDON
When Vivian Bell found himself on a railroad train, in the company of
his new friends, bound for London, he was like one from whom a heavy
burden had been lifted. He became light-hearted and lively.
“I am so happy,” he said, impulsively.
“I am afraid you have never been very happy at the school,” returned
Guy.
“No, never! Dr. Musgrave has always been unkind to me,” said Vivian,
with a shudder.
“He would probably have punished you very severely if we had not made
our appearance.”
“He would have almost killed me. He was frightfully angry at my running
away. How strong your friend is,” he added, looking at August Locke
admiringly.
August smiled. He was human, and he was pleased with the compliment.
“I think I was too much for the doctor,” he said, “but the time was
when he had the advantage of me. I have been flogged more than once in
my schooldays; but I fancy I deserved it more than you. You don’t look
to me like a very bad boy.”
“The doctor said I was, but indeed I tried to do my duty. Yet he was
always flogging me.”
“Rawdon was your friend, was he not?”
“Yes; he was my only friend. He was always ready to stand up for me.”
“The doctor never flogged him?”
“No; I don’t see why, for he wasn’t a model boy, though he was a good
friend to me.”
“He seemed like a trump. I’m sorry I didn’t tip him. I say, Guy, I mean
to send him a couple of guineas, just to show my appreciation of his
pluck and friendship for your ward.”
“No; it is I who ought to do that.”
“We’ll do it together.”
For a few days Guy kept Vivian with him at the hotel. He set himself to
explore London, visiting all the noted places usually sought by
strangers, and this the boy thoroughly enjoyed.
Guy determined to give him some pleasure after his long thraldom at
school.
On the sixth day, in walking up the Strand, he and Vivian were surprised
to meet Jim Rawdon.
Rawdon saw them first.
“Hallo, you two! I was in hopes to meet you,” he said.
“But how do you happen to be in London?” asked Guy. “You haven’t run
away from school, have you?”
“Not exactly; but it amounts to the same thing, except that my father is
satisfied with my leaving.”
“Tell me all about it.”
“Well, it was this way. After you took Bell away the doctor was
fearfully cross. He was ashamed to think we boys had seen his downfall,
and as you were not there he vented his anger on us. There were never so
many boys flogged in the same length of time before.”
“Did you receive the money Mr. Locke and myself sent you?”
“Yes, and it got me into trouble. You see, the doctor heard of it, and
it set him to thinking. Finally he found out, by the help of that
sneaking son of his, that I had encouraged Bell to run away. He was
almost beside himself with anger, and made up his mind to do what he had
never done before; that is, give me a flogging.”
“I hope he didn’t do it,” said Guy, hastily.
“Listen, and I will tell you all about it. He summoned me before the
whole school, and made a short speech. ‘James Rawdon,’ he said, ‘I have
spared you heretofore on account of your excellent father, but I find
that you aided and abetted your schoolmate Bell to run away in defiance
of my rightful authority. Did you, or did you not?’
“‘I did,’ I answered. ‘The boy was so brutally treated that he had good
reason to run away.’
“‘I never heard such insolence!’ roared the doctor, his eyes blazing.
‘Take off your jacket!’
“‘Thank you, sir,’ I replied, ‘I’d rather keep it on.’
“He lost all control of himself then, and sprang for me with the whip.
My father had told me never to submit to a flogging, so I grabbed for
the whip, and we had a struggle for it.
“I managed to break his spectacles, and convinced him that I was pretty
strong for a boy. But what frightened him most was this--I pulled out a
toy pistol from my pocket, and the doctor became pale as a sheet.
“‘Put that down, sir!’ he cried. ‘I will dispose of your case
to-morrow!’
“That was all I wanted. That very evening I walked to the station and
took the cars for London, buying my ticket with the money you sent me.
When I told my father what led me to leave the school he told me I had
done right, and he sent the doctor a letter which he won’t be very glad
to read.”
“Dr. Musgrave seems to be a very unwise man,” said Guy.
“All the boys are getting dissatisfied,” rejoined Rawdon. “I know four
who have written to their fathers to take them away. Dr. Musgrave will
soon find himself deserted.”
On this point we will anticipate matters a little by saying that
Rawdon’s statement proved prophetic. Dr. Musgrave’s temper was so
aggravated by what had occurred that he increased his severity to such
an extent as to induce a rebellion of the pupils.
The directors were finally obliged to take cognizance of the complaints
made by parents, and the result was that Dr. Musgrave was removed from
the post of head master. He found it impossible to get another position,
and was compelled to live, or attempt to live, on the income of a small
sum which he had been able to accumulate in his twenty years’ service.
His successor was a man of high scholarship and enlightened views, who
had assisted Dr. Arnold at Rugby School.
Under his charge the school regained its lost popularity. For his
humiliation Dr. Musgrave had only himself to thank, but it is doubtful
if he fully realized it.
A problem now presented itself to Guy, in reference to his ward. What
should he do with him?
As the boy’s education was incomplete, it seemed desirable that it
should be continued. Moreover, in his future plans Guy felt that
Vivian’s company would hamper him, besides increasing his
responsibility.
Jim Rawdon came to his rescue.
One morning he called at the hotel where Guy was living, and said: “Why
can’t you let Bell go to school with me?”
“Where are you going?” asked Guy.
“My father will send me to a clergyman who takes but six scholars, and
who is highly recommended. He has two vacancies, so there is room for
Bell and myself.”
“Please give me the clergyman’s name, and I will look the matter up.”
Rawdon did so.
Guy heard, upon inquiry, such good accounts of the teacher recommended
that he decided to send Vivian to him, especially as he found that his
young ward was in favor of the plan.
This relieved him, and left him ready to carry out any instructions he
might receive from his employer in Bombay.
It was not long before these instructions came. Going one morning to the
banking house, he found a letter from Mr. Saunders.
A part of it ran thus:
I presume you have visited Milton School, and inquired into the
charges brought by my ward Vivian Bell against the head master. If
the boy is really ill treated, have no hesitation in removing him.
I am not willing that my old friend’s son should be cruelly used.
Of my own knowledge I know nothing of Dr. Musgrave, but you will
have no difficulty in forming a correct judgment as to his
character and methods.
I leave it to your discretion to select another school for Vivian,
unless the boy’s health should require a journey, in which case you
may take him with you to America.
This leads me to say that certain matters which I will detail to
you in a note of instruction, I wish to have you discuss with my
New York agent, Gilbert Frazer, whose address you have. This will
make it necessary for you to make a brief visit to New York.
I now come to the matter of the pirates’ treasure, which,
according to the papers you showed me, is probably concealed on one
of the Agalegas Islands. When you first mentioned the matter to me
I thought little of it. So many stories are extant about buried
treasure, that I was disposed to think this might be entitled to
little consideration. But further reflections have led me to think
that the treasure may really have an existence.
I therefore authorize you to communicate with your old
acquaintance, Captain Grover, of the Osprey, with a view to
engaging his services on his next trip, in a search for the island.
That nothing may interfere with this object, he may report to my
agent, Mr. Frazer, who will provide him with a cargo consigned to
me. The search for the island will occasion delay, but of this I
shall not complain, though another party undoubtedly would.
I send you a letter of credit addressed to Mr. Frazer, who will
provide you with such funds as you need.
Yours truly,
JOHN SAUNDERS.
A memorandum of instructions accompanied this letter.