6 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



1854, to one at Elstree Hill, whither his brother Harry 

 accompanied him. This school was conducted on the 

 old-fashioned principle that learning could only be 

 conveyed by continual flogging, and to such a pitch 

 was it carried that one year the boys determined to bar 

 out the headmaster, and Victor Brooke, as one of the 

 most adventurous spirits, was deputed to collect 

 provisions. To do this he had to be lowered nightly 

 from a bedroom window, and having procured a supply 

 of loaves and cheese, hauled up again by the same 

 process. This went on for several nights, and just as 

 the boys had collected an ample stock sufficient to 

 stand a prolonged siege, the plot was discovered, and 

 dire punishment followed in due course. In November 

 1854 Sir Arthur Brooke died while his son was but 

 ten years of age, and Mr. George Brooke, his father's 

 brother, became his guardian. I have always under- 

 stood from my friend that if any one could take the 

 place of a father his uncle had done so, and the 

 affection and respect with which he always spoke of 

 him, showed how loyal his guardian had been to the 

 trust reposed in him. In 1856 he went to Harrow 

 and remained there some years ; it was then that his 

 great powers of jumping first showed themselves, as 

 when only 5 ft. 7 in. in height, he was second for 

 the school prize with a jump of 5 ft. 6-| in., and was 

 only beaten half an inch by a boy 5 ft. IO in. in 

 height. 



During the holidays at Colebrooke he rapidly 

 acquired great proficiency with both gun and rifle ; 

 with the latter he and his brother Basil became so 

 expert that they could split croquet balls thrown up 

 in the air, and then do the same to the pieces until 

 they were reduced to fragments. This accuracy was 

 of the greatest service to him in India when his 



