THE SCHOOLMASTER ABROAD. 87 



" Phillips, major ; be silent ! " 



'^ rm not talking, Sir, Fm doing my Ovid." 



Phillips, major, however instead of doing his Ovid 

 was certainly doing for the devoted birch which, sprig 

 by sprig, was made food for combustion. 



" Montgomery, stand up for your Sallust." 



" I don't quite know it. Sir." 



" Now Montgomery what's the Latin for splitting 

 a cane?" 



'' That's not in Sallust, Sir." 



" Campbell and Styles come and hoist Montgo- 

 mery, he must be birched, he can't say his Sallust, 

 and mind Montgomery that what I am going to do 

 is for your good : my dear boy, you haven't the sense 

 to know it now, but depend upon it that at a future 

 period you'll be glad that I acte — " 



Ainsworth's latin dictionary came spinning through 

 the air from another quarter of the room, and at this 

 most pathetic part of Walker's speech, struck his 

 nostrils with such good will that he fell heavily 

 backwards on the heads of his scholars, who testifi- 

 ed, by a shout of laughter their approval of his pero- 

 ration. 



" I say Styles and you Campbell," whispered Mont- 

 gomery, " you know you're both right good sort of 

 chaps, and so hoist Walker instead of me, and see if 

 I dont birch him beautifully." 



This was no sooner proposed than done ; and the 

 quondam schoolmaster, in spite of his damaged ol- 

 facteries, was high on the back of Styles, whilst 

 Campbell seizing his legs called lustily for the birch. 



" That's gone to Heaven, my fine fellows," said 

 Phillips, with a most exulting chuckle. 



" Yes, but I've got Ned Farley's big round ruler," 

 exclaimed Montgomery, " and you'll see if it wont 

 make a most beautiful birch." 



All the boys however are not playing at school, a 

 group is gathered on the master's platform, and a 

 great deal of merriment is excited at the success of 

 a feat just performed, viz. locking up a sturdy little 



