26 THE "KAE" AT SCHOOL. CHAP. n. 



He used to keep it at home, but it made such a noise 

 that he was sent out with it one morning, with strict 

 injunctions not to bring it back again. He must let 

 it go, or give it to somebody else. But he was fond 

 of his kae, and his kae was fond of him. It would 

 follow him about like a dog. He could not part with 

 the kae. So he took it to school with him. But how 

 could he hide it ? Little boys' trousers were in those 

 days buttoned over their vest ; and as Tom's^ trousers 

 were pretty wide, he thought he could get the kae in 

 there. He got it safely into his breeks before he 

 entered the school. 



So far so good. But when the schoolmistress gave 

 the word " Pray," all the little boys and girls knelt 

 down, turning their backs to Bell. At this movement 

 the Kae became fractious. He could not accommo- 

 date himself to the altered position. But seeing a 

 little light overhead, he made for it. He projected 

 his beak through the opening between the trousers 

 and the vest. He pushed his way upwards ; Tom 

 squeezed him downwards to where he was before. 

 But this only made the Kae furious. He struggled, 

 forced his way upwards, got his bill through the 

 opening, and then his head. 



The Kae immediately began to cre-waw! cre-waw! 

 "The Lord preserv's a' ! Fat's this noo ?" cried Bell, 

 starting to her feet. "It's Tarn Edward again!" 

 shouted the scholars, " wi' a craw stickin' oot o' his 

 breeks !" Bell went up to him, pulled him up by his 



