The Riverpark Rebellion

by Homer Greene

Only once before, in the memory of the oldest student, had that door been opened to admit a refractory pupil. Indeed, few of those in the school had even so much as seen it. The guard-house was always spoken of with an indefinable shiver, and an unpleasant thought of bread and water and ghostly solitude. The fact that Brede was confined there brought to a climax the excitement under which the school had been laboring for a week.

Later in the morning the nature of Brede’s offence became known. He had been found, the night before, at a disreputable resort in the lower part of the city, in a state of gross intoxication. He had quarrelled with the keeper of the place, had been taken in charge by the police and marched to the station-house, where the police captain had recognized him; and on account of his youth and the disgrace which would attend the publicity of his offence, had directed the officers to take him to Riverpark and turn him over to Colonel Silsbee for punishment. So now he was in the guard-house, living on bread and water.

It was a terrible thing. Boys who were not accustomed to hearing stories of vice and crime, spoke of it in whispers. Indeed, there were some who hardly dared speak of it at all, it was so utterly and shamelessly disgraceful.

That evening Brightly was sick. The fatigue and exposure, especially the nervous strain of the last few days, had so worn upon him that he was obliged to ask for an excuse before the evening session was half through, that he might go to his room and to bed. The favor was readily granted, and he passed slowly up the two flights of stairs to the upper dormitory.

As he went down the hall toward his room, he saw, through the transom over the door, a flickering light. He thought it strange, as he knew that Harple was still in the schoolroom.

It suddenly occurred to him that it was the light of fire. He darted to the door, pushed it open, and started back in horrified amazement.

Brede was kneeling by the bed, holding a lighted candle in his hand, and the mattress in front of him was rapidly bursting into flame.

He had partly risen at Brightly’s approach, and was facing the door when it was opened. Seeing who confronted him, he dropped the candle and made a savage spring toward his old antagonist. In a moment they were both on the floor, fighting desperately.