"We shall soon see that," said Mr. Squeers, rushing upstairs. "I'll find him, I warrant you."
With which assurance Mr. Squeers bounced into the dormitory, and, swinging his cane in the air ready for a blow, darted into the corner. The cane descended harmlessly upon the ground. There was nobody there.
"What does this mean?" said Squeers, turning round. "Where have you hid him?"
"I have seen nothing of him since last night," replied Nicholas.
"Come," blustered Squeers, "you won't save him this way. Where is he?"
"At the bottom of the nearest pond, for aught I know," rejoined Nicholas, in a low voice, and fixing his eyes full on the master's face.
"Confound you, what do you mean by that?" retorted Squeers. Without waiting for a reply, he inquired of the boys whether any one among them knew anything of their missing schoolmate.
There was a general hum of anxious denial, in the midst of which one shrill voice was heard to say (as, indeed, everybody thought):
"Please, sir, I think Smike's run away, sir."
"Ha!" cried Squeers, turning sharp round. "Who said that?"