An' I'll make the dacent strange boy walk home
wid me over your body--that is, if he'd not be afraid to dirty his
feet."
Ratigan and Thady immediately set to, and in a few minutes there were
scarcely a little pair of fists present that were not at work, either
on behalf of the two first combatants, or with a view to determine their
own private rights in being the first to exercise hospitality towards
the amazed poor scholar. The fact was, that while the two largest boys,
were arguing the point, about thirty or forty minor disputes all ran
parallel to theirs, and their mode of decision was immediately adopted
by the pugnacious urchins of the school. In this manner they were
engaged, poor Jemmy attempting to tranquillize and separate them, when
the master, armed in all his terrors, presented himself.
With the tact of a sly old disciplinarian, he first secured the door,
and instantly commenced the agreeable task of promiscuous castigation.
Heavy and vindictive did his arm descend upon those whom he suspected
to have cautioned the boy against his rapacity; nor amongst the
warm-hearted lads, whom he thwacked so cunningly, was Thady passed over
with a tender hand. Springs, bouncings, doublings, blowing of fingers,
scratching of heads, and rubbing of elbows--shouts of pain, and
doleful exclamations, accompanied by action that displayed surpassing
agility-marked the effect with which he plied the instrument of
punishment. In the meantime the spirit of reaction, to use a modern
phrase, began to set in.
Pages:
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88