WHEN I WAS YOUNG 11 



minutes, when, on the advent of a small urchin from 

 the town, we retired into a " loose box," and gave 

 the boy sixpence to go across the no man's land 

 and say we had retired. 



A great surprise attack must be the cowp de grace, 

 and how eagerly we watched the " Townees " leave 

 their fortifications and come across to our lately 

 occupied trenches ! As they stooped to pass through 

 the trucks we leaped out upon them, and then the 

 squeals of pain, the result of shots at close range, 

 were only broken by a rush of newcomers in the 

 shape of " Pat " Drury and his satellites. We were 

 fairly caught. A sad ending indeed to a great 

 day. 



Next morning we stood in a line before the 

 " Head," and I could not help thinking how different 

 were the circumstances of the moment to those of 

 the previous day. 



The Rev. G. C. Bell gave us the usual homily on 

 the dastardly nature of our offence, adding — 



" As for you, Millais, I fear you are quite incor- 

 rigible and will come to a bad end. What on earth 

 do you do it for? " 



I could only hang my head, but blurted out — 



" For scientific purposes, sir." 



"Good Heavens, boy!" he gasped; "do you 

 mean to say that catapulting small (sic) boys in the 

 region of the — er — er — posterior can be done for the 

 sake of science ? " 



Then followed the usual harrowing scene, in 

 which the Head Master, two strong Sixth Form 

 boys, a birch and a struggling victim played their 

 parts. '* Ullage " was always supposed to be very 

 " slack " and half asleep, but I know, having tested 



