“Betray their companions?” said Nelson.
This was a flash of lightning on a touch-hole of powder, and immediately made the Master spring from his desk, and taking hold of Nelson by the collar, brought him into the middle of the school.
“You are one of them!” said the enraged Clerical, “and unless you immediately tell me who are the guilty parties in this exploit, I will strip the skin from your shoulders.”
“The skinning of an eel is a difficult job,” said Nelson—“but as to who did the deed, I can inform you at once. It was I.”
“Yes, I know it was you—for you are the mover of all such harum-scarum exploits; but who were your abettors and instigators?”
“I instigated myself,” said Nelson.
“No doubt, no doubt—but I will know who your companions were, and I’ll warrant this cane shall bring it out of you.”
“Try it,” said Nelson.
Exasperated by this cool impudence, the Master applied the cane vigorously to the young hero’s shoulders, who stood the process with much about the same indifference as a gate-post. At the end of the caning, Nelson said, mildly—
“Stop and take breath, Sir—you will hurt your constitution.”