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"No!" roared Brigson, "I should think not." "Well, then, take that!" he shouted, striking him in the face. The fight that followed was very short. In a single round Montagu had utterly thrashed, and stricken to the earth, and forced to beg for mercy, his cumbrous and brutal opponent.
As he glanced round the room, at the flushed faces of the boys, some of whom he could not recognise in the dusky atmosphere, a qualm of disgust and shame passed over him. Several of them were smoking, and, with Bull and Brigson heading the line on each, side of the table, he could not help observing what a bad set they looked. The remembrance of Russell came back to him.
Brigson tried to seize him, but failing, contented himself with flinging a big coal at him as he ran out of the room, which narrowly missed his head. "I have it!" said Brigson; "that little donkey's given me an idea. We'll crust Rose to-night." "To crust," gentle reader, means to pelt an obnoxious person with crusts. "Capital!" said some of the worst boys present; "we will."
He ended by announcing that the boys who were caught would be birched, "except the elder ones, Bull and Brigson, who will bring me one hundred lines every hour of the half-holidays till further notice. There are some," he said, "I am well aware, who, though present yesterday, were not detected. I am sorry for it, for their sakes; they will be more likely to sin again.
But while Montagu was hated, Eric was at the zenith of popular favor, a favor which Brigson ostentatiously encouraged. He was openly flattered and caressed, and if ever he got a large score at cricket, it was chalked triumphantly over the walls. All this he was weak enough to enjoy immensely, and it was one of the reasons why he did not wish to risk his popularity by breaking with Brigson.
I shall now ask all the rest, one by one, if they took any part in this. And beware of telling me a lie." There was an uneasy sensation in the room, and several boys began to whisper aloud, "Brigson! Brigson!" The whisper grew louder, and Mr. Rose heard it. He turned on Brigson like a lion, and said "They call your name; stand out!"
Your friend Brigson reigns supreme out of the studies; he has laid down a law that no work is to be done down stairs ever under any pretence, and it's only by getting into one of the studies that good little chaps like Wright can get on at all. Even in the class-rooms there's so much row and confusion that the mere thought of work is ridiculous."
And now, you boys, there in that coward, who cannot even endure his richly-merited punishment, see the boy whom you have suffered to be your leader for well-nigh six months!" "Now, sir" again he turned upon Brigson "that flogging shall be repeated with interest on your next offence. At present you will take each boy on your back while I cane him.
Brigson knew at a glance whom he had most to fear; Bull, Attlay, Llewellyn, Graham, all tolerated or even approved of him. Owen did not come in his way, so he left him unmolested. To Eric and Duncan he was scrupulously civil, and by flattery and deference managed to keep apparently on excellent terms with them.
"You see how he turns on his pets if they offend him," said Brigson; "why, even that old beast Gordon isn't as bad." "Yes; while poor Eric was reading, Rose reminded me of Milton's serpent," drawled Bull; "Hope elevates and joy brightens his crest." "He-e-ar! He-e-ar!" said Pietrie; "vide the last fifth form Rep."
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