The Gold Bat

e days were short and lock-up early. In the summer term there were other things to do--nets, which lasted till a quarter to seven (when lock-up was), and the baths--and brewing practicall

were Drummond and his friend De Bertini. In study seven, which was a smaller room and only capable of holding one person with any comfort, one James Rupert Leather-Twigg (that was his singular name, as Mr Gilbert has it) had taken up his abode. The name of Leather-Twigg having proved, at an early date in his career, too great

get things ready. They were not high enough up in the scho

re fortunate that, when he upset the kettle (he nearly always did at some period of the evening's business), the contents spread themselves over Barry, and not over himself. Football clothes will stand any amount of water, whereas M'Todd's "Youth's winter suiting at fort

d Drummond,

'd just got the kettle going when that ass M'Todd plunged against the table and

dd, he is downstairs--but to wait? No, no. Let us. Sh

t De Bertini was so very fixed in his determination to speak English. He was a trier all the way, was De Bertini. You rarely caught him helping

interpreter. Occasionally there would come a linguistic effort by which even he freely confessed himself ba

back. He never could fill a kettle in less than ten minutes, and even then he's certain

ver the mat as he entered, and spilt about half a pint into one of his football boots, whi

ns up in time to do any work. He seems to regard himself as a beastly guest. I

n the spluttering pan, "you see. He'll come just as we've finished cooking them. I believe the man wait

, looking as if he had not brushed his hair since early childhood, sidled in with an attempt at

rewing, I see. Ca

ed years ago,

o," said

appeared on Shoeblosso

t finished

g," said Drummond. "We haven't be

o show that he regarded the situation with approval. He looked round the study. Ha! Happy thought--the frying-pan. That useful culinary instrument was lying in

e any one could stop him, he had turned it upside down over the fire. As has been already r

The fat was in the fire with a vengeance. A great sheet of flame rushed out and up. Shoeblossom leaped back with a readiness highly cre

ece to beat out the fire with a football shirt. Bertie was talking rapidly to himself

ely at things in general, now came into action. Probably it was force of habit that suggested to him that the time had come to upset the kettle. At any rate, upset it he did--most of it over the glowing, blazing mass in t

the strategist. "You can get out from Milton's dormitory w

to carry out these excellent i

chief, but by the look of his eyes, which appeared above, he did not seem pleased. He took in the situation at a glance. Fires in the house were not rarities.

chimney

r," said

water on to the roof and throw it down." Herbe

d look up to see if the fire was out. He stooped and peered into the darkness, and, even as he gazed, splash came the contents of the fourth pail, together with some soot with which they had f

hollow, sepulchral voice w

er come down then, s

d into a chair, and

*

… three hundred lines, Leather-Twigg … abominable … surprised … ought to be asham

tely at the soot on his face with his handkerchief. Shoeblossom stood and gurgled thr

forbid you to enter them till further notice. It is disgraceful that such a thing should happen. Do you hear, Barry? And you,

stalked off t

, as his footsteps died aw

looking on the bright side that