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Updated: July 15, 2025
One of the most active fellows we had at that time was Richard Blackall. He was not quite the cock of the school, though, for his size, he was very strong; but at all gymnastic feats he beat nearly everybody. His chief rival was Miles Lemon, who could perform most of the exercises he could, and did some of them better.
That dolt Ellis, and that conceited chap Bracebridge, will soon find that their finely-bedizened machine is cut out. My carriage is, I know, such a first-rate one, that it will go along with anything." Dawson was in great hopes that Blackall was right, for he had staked his reputation, as he said, on the success of his patron and his imported kite, and he had no fancy to find himself laughed at.
He had sometimes a difficult task in keeping to his resolution. I have said that Blackall for some weeks had appeared to be much less dictatorial and inclined to bully; but by degrees his former habits returned with greater force, from having been put under some restraint for a time.
Blackall heard the first part of Ernest's remarks. He turned round as if to give vent to his feelings; but not finding words to express himself, he stamped with his foot, and continued on in the direction he was going. "I wonder whether he will go and complain to the Doctor of the thrashing we have given him," exclaimed Bouldon, as they were marching homeward.
Seizing poor Gregson, who lay on the grass even more hurt than Bouldon, Blackall dragged him along, and placed him near his friend, and then flourishing his formidable colt, was about to make it descend first on the back of one and then on that of the other of his victims, when a loud shout arrested his arm, and, looking up, he saw from both ends of the glade a strong body of boys, in military order, advancing towards him.
Dawson never lost an opportunity of having a fling at Bracebridge, who had passed so rapidly by him in the school, and had beat him at all their games. "No, no; I mean a lanky-limbed, long-faced fellow, who looks as if his face was made of butter. I think I know him," said Barber. "Oh, you mean that miserable wretch Ellis," snarled Blackall. "He's a fellow born to be licked.
A considerable number of fellows vowed that they would stand this conduct no longer; yet what could they do? Blackall alone might have been managed; but several big fellows had united with him, and had taken it into their heads that they should like to introduce fagging.
Tommy, like Blackall, was rather apt to boast of what he had done, or he purposed doing; but in one respect he was different; he never exaggerated in his descriptions of his past exploits, and seldom failed to perform whatever he undertook to do. The boys I have described were among the many who were exercising away with all their might and main on the gymnastic poles.
He had not learned the use of the single-stick for nothing, and throwing himself back, he warded off the blow, and then, quick as lightning, struck the ball, and sent it past his cowardly opponent. Blackall, not in the least ashamed of himself, attempted to repeat the blow while Ernest was unable to defend himself; but before his stick descended another actor had come into the field.
To this, of course, the others were too glad to consent, under the belief that they could at all events make it a drawn battle; while Ernest's friends gloried in the hopes of beating their big opponents three to one. Blackall having observed that Ernest placed his men according to a certain plan, thought he would do the same.
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