Ernest Bracebridge | Page 5

"I'm rather fond of athletic exercises."
"I'll be content to see you get up that pole, young 'un," observed
Tommy, putting his tongue in his cheek. "Take care you don't burn
your fingers as you come down."
"I'll try, if I may," replied the new boy quietly.
He advanced towards the pole, but another boy got hold of it--rather a
bungler he seemed; so Ernest left him to puff and blow by himself in
his vain efforts at getting up, and went on to one of the swinging ropes.
He seized it well above his head, and pressing his knees and feet
against it, steadily drew himself up, to the surprise of Bouldon and
Dawson and several other lookers-on, till he reached the lofty cross-bar.
Was he coming down again? No. He sprang up and ran along the beam
with fearless steps till he came to the part into which the top of the pole
was fixed. Most of the boys thought that he would come down by the
ladder; but, stooping down, he swung himself on to the pole and slid
down head first to the ground. There he stood, looking as cool and
unconcerned as if he had not moved from the spot. The feat he had
performed, though not difficult, was one which neither Dawson nor
Bouldon had yet attempted. It raised him wonderfully in the opinion of
those young gentlemen.
"Very well, young one," exclaimed Tommy in a patronising tone. "I did
not think you'd have done it half as well. However, I suppose it's the
trick you have practised. You couldn't do, now, what that big fellow
there, Blackall, is about?"
"Oh, yes," said Ernest quietly. "I can kick the bar, or swing on it, or
circle it, or do the grasshopper, or hang by my legs, or make a true
lover's knot, or pass through my arms, or hang by my feet. You fancy
that I am boasting, but the fact is this, my father won't let us do
anything imperfectly. If we do it at all, he says, we must do it well."

"Oh, I dare say that's all right, young one," observed Tommy, turning
away with Dawson. "I see how it is. He has been coached well up in
gymnastics, but when he comes to play cricket or football it will be a
very different affair. A fellow may learn one thing or so at home very
well, but he soon breaks down when he comes to practice work."
A few only of the boys had remarked Ernest's performances. Most of
them were too much engaged in their own exercises to think of him. He
felt rather solitary when left to himself, and wished that Dawson and
Bouldon would have stopped to talk to him, not that he particularly
admired their manners. He was well prepared, however, to meet all
sorts of characters. School and its inner life had been described to him
by his father with faithful accuracy.
Although at the time few, if any, private schools were to be found
superior to Grafton Hall, Ernest did not expect to find it as happy a
place as his own home, much less a paradise. A number of little boys
were playing a game of ring-taw in a corner of the yard. Ernest walked
up to them. No one took any notice of him, but went on with their game.
"Knuckle down," was the cry. A sturdy little fellow, with a
well-bronzed hand, was peppering away, knocking marble after marble
out of the ring with his taw, and bid fair to win all that remained. Ernest
had long ago given up marbles himself, but he did not pretend to forget
how to play with them. He thought that if he offered to join them it
might serve as an introduction.
"If you will let me, I shall like to play with you," he said quietly,
catching the eye of the sturdy player.
"With all my heart," was the answer.
"Thank you. But I must buy a taw and some marbles," said Ernest. "I
did not think of bringing any."
"Oh, I will lend you some," answered the boy. "Here, this taw is a
prime one; it will win you half the marbles in the ring if you play well."
Ernest thanked his new friend, and took the taw and a dozen marbles

with a smile. He was amused at finding himself about to play marbles
with some boys most of whom were so much younger than himself. His
new friend had cleared the ring, and a fresh game was about to begin.
He put down eight of his marbles, and, as there were several players, a
large number were collected. The first player had shot out four or five
marbles, when his taw remaining