Alfred had got up, but his hands and face were bleeding from the scratches. The other boys had gone on with the game and had not noticed the disturbance. Steve was goal-keeper, while Walter was playing centre forward and was making a dash for the goal. Alfred wiped his face and hands with his handkerchief, and although he was hurt, was going forward to rejoin the game, when he saw Steve hit King back. King was a bigger boy than Steve, but the latter was not afraid of him.
“You dare to hit me!” said King. “I’ll give you one for yourself.”
“No, you won’t,” exclaimed Walter, running up; “it’s football we’re playing, not boxing. What’s all this row about?”
Stephen had not time to answer, as the school bell rang, and the boys had to run in. Alfred dipped his handkerchief in some water at the school tap and wiped his face and hands.
“Boys,” said Mr. Harmer, directly after calling over the names, “I have something to say to you. First, I hear that some of you are in the habit of playing near the old pit-mouth; in fact I have been told that you go down it with a rope, and sometimes play in it. I must forbid your doing so, as it is very dangerous. You know it was a coal-mine, but has been closed for several years, and in all probability there is a great quantity of water at the bottom after the rain. The ground also might at any time fall in, as it has done before. The second thing is, that you must not row on the river near the weir, as it is dangerous even for a good rower. You may go up the river above the bridge as far as you like, as the water is not very deep and the current is not strong. Now get your books.”
Alfred was busily engaged in doing his sums, and not noticing anything or anybody else, when Harry Cox asked him to help him, as he was very bad at figures. Alfred showed him how to do the practice sums and some decimals, and then finished his own.
“Cox,” said the master, “bring up your work.”
Cox took up his book and showed it to Mr. Harmer.
“These are much better, Cox, than usual,” said Mr. Harmer. “Did you do them all alone, or did anyone help you?”
“I did them, sir, all alone,” replied Harry promptly.