A SIEGE WITHOUT BESIEGERS--HEROISM OF GARRISON--GENERAL PIKE AND THE
ARMY OF OBSERVATION--GARRISON YIELDS AT DISCRETION--A NEW SCHOOLMASTER,
AND GREAT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SCHOOL.
The morning at last came. Digby sat up and rubbed his eyes. At first
he thought that he was in the smugglers' cave; then on board the lugger,
hurrying to her destruction; then in the sea-worn cavern into which he
had been at last cast. At last he remembered where he was. All he had
gone through on the above-mentioned occasion was trying enough, but he
had not himself to blame. His present rather ridiculous discomfort he
had been at least instrumental in bringing on himself. He tried to go
to sleep again, for he had no pleasant thoughts to keep him awake; so he
dozed on till the the usual loud-sounding bell rang to call the boys up.
That awoke him effectually, though some of the boys seemed to have a
satisfaction in continuing to lie down in spite of the bell. Then the
first school-bell rang, and the breakfast-bell, and the second
school-bell--indeed, the day passed exactly as the previous one had
done. No one came near them that they were aware of, nor were they able
to hold the slightest communication with anybody without. Scarborough
drank more beer than he had done the day before, and was more tyrannical
than ever. He and his friends smoked and drank all day, and, they said,
made themselves perfectly happy; but it was dreadfully dull work for all
the rest. Oh, how they wished that matters could be brought to a
satisfactory conclusion. They were not allowed to have dinner till
late, as before. They managed to do pretty well at it, but at tea-time
bread began to run short. They had laid in a smaller supply of that
than of anything else. The night passed in thorough discomfort, but
with no interruption from without. The next morning they were obliged
to breakfast on biscuits and sweetcakes; they had potatoes, but they
could not manage to cook enough of them properly; and at dinner they
were very badly off for some plain article of food to eat with their
pies and ham, and similar rich dishes. At tea they were still worse
off; for though jam, and honey, and cheese, and tongue are all very good
things with bread, they do not make a good mixture without some of the
staff of life.
Still the more heroic declared that it would be a disgrace to yield for
such a trifle; indeed, it was difficult to say to whom they should
yield; for unless they had opened the door and sneaked out, there was no
other course for them to pursue than to stay where they were. So they
had another night to spend on the bare boards, without changing their
clothes, or washing their hands and faces. They had to breakfast on
ham, jam and honey, or bits of pie. Fortunate were those who found some
scraps of plum-cake. Even Scarborough's tobacco was running short, and
the beer was nearly expended. This would have been fortunate in most
respects; but the prospect of having to go without it made him more
savage than ever.
"Never fear, old fellow," said Julian, touching him on the shoulder; "I
am up to a thing or two--look here!"
He showed him a couple of bottles of gin.
"There's comfort for you."
The wretched fellow's eyes glistened. What was the comfort offered? To
steep his senses in forgetfulness; to make himself like a brute. He did
not think of that, though. The gin bottles were soon concealed, and
Scarborough was again in better spirits. There was not much dispute
about the time of dinner that day, as there was very little to eat.
Those who could get them, had to chew the hard tops, and the roots of
tongues, and the knuckles of hams, and the rind of cheese, and to finish
off with honey and marmalade; but even those who generally liked sweet
things the best had very little fancy for them now. The water, too, had
become very mawkish and vapid, and there was scarcely any tea left; what
remained was used up that evening. Still no one proposed giving in.
The bigger fellows dared not; the little ones did not know what to do;
and the more daring still lived on in hopes of an assault being made on
their stronghold, when they might have some excuse for yielding with
honour, but to be starved into submission was most derogatory to their
dignity. That night was the most unpleasant of any. Many of the
fellows were very sick; bad air, no exercise, and a mixture of salt ham
and sweet jam tended to disturb the economy of their insides. Several
of the little fellows began to cry bitterly, and got books sent at their
heads in consequence by Scarborough, whenever he woke up and heard them.
The next morning the last drop of water in the jugs and basins was
expended, the potatoes were all baked or boiled, and every scrap of ham,
or tongue, or cheeseparing was consumed. Hunger not only stared them in
the face, but was actually attacking their stomachs. Few before knew
what very uncomfortable sensations it caused--how it could pinch; how
sick and how low-spirited it could make them feel. Even Digby, Ranger,
and Newland began to think that means must be taken to put an end to
that state of things. Had they known who was the general commanding the
forces opposed to them, they would not have held out so long. Not poor
Mr Sanford; he was very ill, and knew nothing about the matter. Not
Mr Yates; he had left the school, so had Monsieur Guillaume. The
general was no other than Mrs Pike, and her whole army was represented
by Susan, who was furnished with the garden steps, by means of which she
was enabled to inspect at her convenience the proceedings of the heroic
garrison. General Pike's spy and informant of the resources of the
enemy was little Tommy Bray, who, as his reward, had as many muffins and
cakes for breakfast and tea as he could eat, and a large supply of
pudding for dinner. Through him General Pike knew the exact amount of
the money collected and the provisions purchased with it; and with this
data to go on, she sat down and calculated the exact time these
provisions were likely to last. She thus knew perfectly well that by
Thursday morning the garrison must yield at discretion, and she had
arranged her plans accordingly. Susan, on returning from her daily
reconnaissance, assured her that the garrison were not suffering from
fever, or from any dangerous ailment, but only that they generally
looked very stupid and dull, and that she was very certain that by the
afternoon they would be too happy to yield to any terms she might choose
to dictate.
"They have no fire, marm; and they don't seem to have a morsel of
anything to eat for breakfast," said Susan.
Mrs Pike was not very hard-hearted, but she knew that a little
starvation would do none of them much harm.
"We will wait till about an hour before dinner-time, and then we will go
and see what they have got to say for themselves," she observed, rubbing
her nose, which was a habit of hers when she was meditating on any
subject. "By that hour Dr Graham will be here, and it is as well that
he should receive the young gentlemen's submission."
Long and serious consultations were now held within the garrison. With
the exception of Scarborough and his immediate companions, or his
council, as he called them, all were unanimous that if terms were
offered they must yield to them. Paul Newland, especially, was very
strenuous on this point. "We have been great donkeys, of that there
cannot be the slightest doubt; but we shall be still greater if we keep
ourselves shut up here a moment longer than we can help," he observed.
"We have spent our money, we have made ourselves thoroughly
uncomfortable, we have lost many a jolly good game of play, and we have
obtained for ourselves a no very enviable character in the eyes of our
masters, while we shall all of us go home with black marks against our
names."
"But we have been fighting for a great principle. We must remember that
our honours were concerned," answered Digby.
"Fighting! We haven't fought at all," returned Newland. "A great
principle! I have been thinking over that point also. Our great
principle should be obedience; that is one of the things we were sent to
school to learn. I forget when I found it out, but I now clearly
remember it, and in adhering to that, depend on it our honours were
involved much more than in insisting on going out when, for some very
good reason probably, Mr Sanford thought fit to keep us in. All I can
say is, that I wish he was well, and could have us up and flog us all
round, and so settle the matter off-hand. I certainly don't like the
thoughts of yielding to old Yates."
A few acknowledged the justice of these opinions. It was not to be
expected that many should do so. The last sentiment was reciprocated by
all.
"The sooner, then, we make preparations for opening the door the
better," observed Farnham.
They possessed themselves of Spiller's tools. That worthy, with Julian
Langley, Scarborough, and a few others, were sitting up in a corner,
puffing away slowly at their clay pipes, and sipping away at something
which they did not wish the rest to see. They were too stupified to
observe what was being done. The bars across the doors were removed;
their strength had never even been tried. Then Farnham took down a
shutter, and in desperation threw open the windows to let some fresh air
in. Oh, how delicious and sweet it was, compared to the poisonous
atmosphere they had been so long breathing.
"I, for one, vote that we all march out in order, and walk up and down
in the playground till some one comes to know what we want," exclaimed
Digby, as if a bright idea had struck him. "Or, I will tell you what, I
don't mind going with a flag of truce straight up to Mr Sanford, to
tell him our grievances, and to ask what terms he will give us."
"Capital! grand! spirited!" shouted most of the fellows--at least they
moaned out, for they were not in a condition to shout.
Not a moment was allowed him to recede from his offer. The largest and
the least dirty white pocket-handkerchief they could find was
immediately fastened on to the end of a broomstick. There was a little
water remaining, in which Digby's hands and face were washed. His hair
was combed with the only pocket comb to be found in the army, and his
clothes were brushed with the broom above spoken of, and his
shirt-collar smoothed down as much as was practicable. Independently of
his spirit and discretion, he certainly looked fatter and less pale than
any of the rest, and was therefore the fittest envoy that could have
been selected to give the enemy a favourable opinion of the garrison.
They were, of course, not aware that Susan knew perfectly well all about
them.
Digby was all ready, with his flag in his hand. He only waited for the
door to be opened.
"Come," exclaimed Ranger, "Heathcote may go on ahead as a herald, but I
do feel that it will be a crying shame and disgrace if we let him go
alone. We ought all to fall in, and march out into the playground to
support him if necessary. As for those boozing fellows up there in the
corner, they have deceived and cheated us, that is very evident. We are
not bound to them; they may follow if they like."
Perhaps Ranger was not quite right in this, though Scarborough and his
set certainly did not deserve that terms should be kept with them.
The thoughts of fresh air and exercise, and the hope of bringing their
present uncomfortable condition to a termination, made the great mass,
without a moment's further consideration, yield to the proposal; and,
falling in together, the moment the door was opened and Digby had gone
forth, they hurried out after him.
No one was in the schoolroom, but it looked as if it had been swept, the
desks scraped and polished, and everything put in good order.
Out into the playground they marched, following Digby so closely that he
appeared to be at their head. Ranger, Farnham, Newland, and his other
chief friends kept directly behind him.
They had just reached the playground, and were facing the glass door
opening from the house into it, when the door was opened, and a tall,
very gentlemanly, youngish-looking man appeared at it, with Mr Moore,
their favourite master, standing behind him. The stranger advanced
towards them,--
"I am glad to meet you here, young gentlemen," he said, in a very
harmonious voice. "I understand that you have for some days past shut
yourselves up in your play-room, in consequence, it is supposed, of your
being dissatisfied with some arrangements which were made regarding you.
My name is Dr Graham. I am now the master of this school, Mr Sanford
having yielded his authority, with the sanction of your parents, into my
hands. I shall at all times willingly listen to any complaints you have
to make. Let me know the grievance which caused you to shut yourselves
up as _you_ have lately done."
Digby, in a manly and straightforward way, told him exactly why they had
thus acted.
"It was done at my request," said Dr Graham. "I found, on inquiry,
that most reprehensible practices took place on these occasions, and as
I have a number of pupils of my own who will soon become the companions
of some of you, I wished to stop all liberty till I could arrange how to
deal with the culprits. My object, understand, is to have a school of
happy, Christian, gentlemanly boys. There is no reason why all should
not be very happy and contented; and I am resolved not to allow those of
whom I have hopes of becoming so to suffer for those of whom I can have
but very slight or no hope at all. Mr Moore, are these all the boys?"
"No, Sir, there are several absent, who, I fear, must be justly placed
in the last category," answered Mr Moore.
"Where are they, then?" asked Dr Graham, looking at Digby.
"In the play-room, Sir," he answered, feeling as if he was acting a
treacherous part towards them; but truly he could have said only what he
did.
"We will go there at once, and see the state of affairs," said the
Doctor. It is possible he might have guessed, though, from Susan's
information. "Follow me, young gentlemen."
Guided by Mr Moore, he went direct to the play-room.
What was the consternation of the wretched tipplers when, looking up,
they found themselves deserted by their companions, and saw a stranger,
with one of their masters, at the door. Scarborough tried to get up,
after gazing round at them in a stupid, idiotic way, but fell forward on
his face; while the rest sat still, stupidly glaring up at him and Mr
Moore. At last, when they attempted to rise, they fell down as
Scarborough had done.
"I shall have little difficulty in settling how to deal with those
miserable fellows," said the Doctor, pointing scornfully at them. "They
are, I conclude, from what Mrs Pike tells me, the heads and instigators
of this most sagaciously conducted and commendable rebellion. Happily,
_I_ am not bound to keep any boy with whose character I am not
satisfied. Mr Moore, I must request you to take down the names of
those I see in that corner of the room. I wish also to know those of
the young gentlemen who met me openly in the playground, and especially
of their leader, with the flag of truce. I accept it as a sign that
they are sorry for what has occurred, and grant a full amnesty to all
those who have followed it."
The boys, on hearing these words, spoken in a thoroughly kind, frank
manner, gave vent to their feelings in a loud hearty shout. The
expressions touched all their better feelings.
"Long live Dr Graham!" cried Digby.
"May he long be our master, and we be his obedient attentive pupils!"
added Newland, who had the happy knack of giving the right turn to a
sentiment.
The cry was taken up by the rest of the boys, and the Doctor turned
round and said, smiling, "Thank you; I am well satisfied. I feel sure
that we shall always be good friends. Now go up into your rooms and get
ready for dinner."
The basins and jugs were carried upstairs, hands and faces were washed,
and clothes changed, and when the dinner-bell rang, they went down into
the dining-room, where Mrs Pike received them with a smile as if
nothing had happened, and all declared that they never had had so good a
dinner at the school--certainly, never had they been more hungry. And
thus the mighty rebellion was concluded. Dr Graham had not promised
that they should go out on a Saturday, so that they had gained nothing
whatever by their movement.
Only Mr Moore and Mrs Pike superintended at dinner. The other three
masters, they found, had gone.
"Before we separate," said Mrs Pike, standing up when she had served
out the last helping of pudding, "I have a few words to say to you. I
am very sorry that you spent three days so unpleasantly as you must have
done this week, because Mr Sanford had intended granting you, in
consequence of his illness, half-holidays every day, and but slight
tasks in the morning, till the arrival of Dr Graham, who has for some
time arranged to take charge of the school. He had charged me to do my
best to find you amusement. On Monday I had ordered carriages to take
you to a pic-nic in Fairley Wood; Tuesday, a famous conjuror was to have
come; and on Wednesday you were to have had a grand tea in the garden
here, and fireworks afterwards. However, perhaps you thought yourselves
better employed. All I can say is, that I am sorry for what has
occurred, but intend to forget all about it; though, as those who win
may laugh, I might be allowed, if I chose, to make fun of you."
"Sold again--admirably sold!" exclaimed Farnham to Digby, as they walked
into the playground. They were not much inclined to play, though, for
never had they felt more weary and sleepy. Though the fresh air revived
them, they heartily wished for bed-time.
It was soon whispered about that Doctor Graham had resolved on expelling
Scarborough and all his set. Everybody acknowledged the justice of this
decision, and rejoiced at it. The only one of the party who was allowed
to remain was Julian Langley, in consequence of his having only so
lately come to the school.
"Dr Graham," repeated Digby, after he and his companions had been
discussing the merits of their new master, "why, that is the very name
of the master of the school to which Arthur Haviland was going. I
wonder where he comes from. All I can say is, that he seems a
first-rate man, and sensible and kind, and so Arthur said his master
was."
Two days after this, Dr Graham announced that the pupils from his
former school were about to arrive. In the evening, four carriages full
of them drew up at the door. Digby looked eagerly out, and there, sure
enough, in the very first was Arthur Haviland. How delighted were the
two friends to see each other. The surprise was mutual, for neither of
them were certain that they were to meet. The Doctor, knowing how
certain any change of this sort was to unsettle boys' minds, had not
told them till the last moment the arrangements which had been made.
The two sets of schoolboys became acquainted with each other with great
rapidity. The Doctor had won the hearts of nearly all his new pupils by
his clemency and urbanity, while what was still more satisfactory, all
his old ones spoke in the warmest terms of him.
A new system was at once inaugurated. A first master, a very
gentlemanly man and a good scholar, took the place of the little-loved
Mr Yates; Mr Moore kept his post as second master; the third, who took
the place of the ill-conditioned Mr Tugman, was a very nice,
quiet-looking lad, with whom at first the boys thought they could do
anything; but they very soon found that beneath that calm countenance
there dwelt a most determined spirit; that he had lately left a
first-rate public school, where he had been praeposter of his house, and
that he was thoroughly up to all the ways and dodges of boys. He had
been for a short time at one of the Universities, which his want of
means had compelled him to leave, and thus he had become an usher for
the sake of saving money to take him there again. He worked hard
himself, and he was determined that those under him should work hard
also. The writing-master was also a gentleman, for Dr Graham felt the
importance of having a good example set, even in minute points, to those
whom he wished to see turn out gentlemen in every respect. He had
explained to Mrs Pike his wish that all the provisioning and household
arrangements should be established on the most liberal footing. I want
the boys to have as much and as pleasant food as they would have at
home, so that they may have no cause to regret coming here, because they
are no longer to have the nice things to which they have been
accustomed. Teacups and saucers, and spoons, and plates, and knives,
were introduced at breakfast and tea, so that the boys might spread
their own bread with butter, or honey, or marmalade. At dinner, too,
the usual arrangements of a gentleman's dining table were introduced--
plated spoons and forks, and glass tumblers--and there were fruit tarts
and puddings, and vegetables; indeed, an abundance of such things as
were in season.
"These may appear trifles, Mrs Pike," observed the Doctor, when that
thrifty housewife ventured to expostulate with him; "but they have a
considerable effect on boys. I doubt whether they will very much
increase your weekly bills, and I am certain that they will assist to
give the lads gentlemanly tastes, and assist me very considerably in
managing them. It is, believe me, much easier to govern a school of
gentlemanly boys than one full of those of an opposite character. My
great wish is, to be able to place perfect confidence in their words.
They will then require much less supervision and much less constraint.
I explain this, because I think that you will aid in establishing those
principles."
"That I will, sir," answered Mrs Pike, who was a very sensible woman,
and saw at once the superiority of the Doctor's system over that which
had hitherto prevailed.
In a short time a marked difference was observed in the school, and the
boys were generally infinitely happier and more contented. At the same
time there were still grumblers and dissatisfied ones.
"It is all very well--a new broom sweeps clean," said they. "Wait a
little; we shall soon get back into our old ways."
They discovered, however, that the new broom went on sweeping cleaner
and cleaner, till only the bad had excuse for grumbling, because they
found it difficult to indulge in their malpractices. Of course there
were bad ones, even though Scarborough and his set had been expelled.
Some of those the Doctor brought with him were bad, and some of those
who were already in the school were so, and they very soon found each
other out.
Julian Langley had plenty of companions, but still he tried very hard to
win back Digby's friendship. Had Arthur Haviland not been there he
might have succeeded; but Arthur had gained a perfect insight into
Julian's character, and considered him a very dangerous companion for
Digby. Julian very soon discovered now much Arthur disliked him, and
determined to have his revenge.
From the time of Dr Graham's arrival the whole system of the school was
completely changed. There was a much stricter supervision, at the same
time that there was much more real liberty. Bullying--that is to say,
glaring tyranny and cruelty--was almost entirely put a stop to; only the
would-be bullies and the very bad ones any longer could in any way
complain. The Saturday excursions were once more allowed; but the boys
were especially charged not to trespass, or to do any damage; and they
had to pass their words that they would adhere strictly to the rules
laid down. A monitorial system was established. Six boys of different
ages were selected, for their general good conduct, discretion, temper,
and acknowledged high principles, to act as monitors. They had a number
of privileges as a recompense for the onerous duties with which they
were entrusted, and which they were never known to neglect. When any
distant excursion was made, one of the monitors was obliged to accompany
the party, and to give a full account of all their proceedings. One of
the other boys was also frequently called on to do the same. On all
half-holidays they might obtain leave to go out where they liked,
provided every two hours they came back and reported themselves, so that
no one could go to any great distance; nor could, as before, an
ill-conditioned fellow like Scarborough spend his time in smoking and
drinking without being found out. Digby liked the change excessively;
he was constantly with Arthur Haviland, and benefited much by his
companionship; for, in truth, a high-principled boy has great power in
influencing his friends and associates for good. Julian sneered, but
sneered in vain, and at last ceased to try and tempt Digby to join him
in his malpractices. Still Digby found it very difficult to keep
altogether aloof from his former associate; there had been no cause of
quarrel between them, nothing that he could well allege to separate
them; and even the occasional remarks which Julian let fall, and the
knowledge of the mode in which he spent his time, did harm, and might
have had a serious effect on him, as it had undoubtedly on some of his
other schoolfellows.