“Who whistled?” exclaimed the dean. “It was one of you boys at the end of the room. Do you suppose I cannot tell where the sound comes from? Stand up, every one of you!”
As the boys rose a voice called out, “Wipe your boots!”
The dean looked at the boys in blank astonishment.
“One of you boys is trying to mock me by imitating a man’s voice. How dare you? Which boy is it? It must be one of you who were sitting on that end form. Unless you at once confess, I will send for Mr. Harmer and have you all caned.”
“Look out!” said the voice.
The dean could see that none of the boys was speaking.
“Do you want a pill?” said the voice.
The dean and all the boys looked towards the end of the room. No one was there.
“Where’s the bottle?” said the voice, and then there was a loud whistle, followed by a sneeze.
“Please, sir,” said Steve, “there’s Mr. Cottenham’s parrot on that beam. He lost it last night.”