Jack of Both Sides | Page 6

young fraud!" exclaimed Jack; but his own voice shook, and he
was glad to surrender his charge into the hands of the attendant, a man
trained for his position. The March Hare, who was shivering beside
him, sobbed with joy when he saw one small leg draw itself up, and an
arm move a few inches, at their owner's will.
"Top-peen! Top-peen!" he cried. "You are not died!"
Toppin stared at his friend over a tea-spoon. He was sipping hot

spirits-and-water, and wondering what it was. But Jack turned upon the
March Hare.
"We shall be standing you head downwards in a minute, Hare. You're
next door to drowning yourself. Get up, and come with me!"
The Hare protested feebly, with chattering teeth. But the attendant
thrust a spoonful of Toppin's drink between them, and counselled Jack
to take him to his wife. That good woman stripped the Hare in a
twinkling, wrapped him in a blanket, and set him before her kitchen fire
to watch his garments dry. Jack meanwhile returned to the saloon, to
find Toppin clothed once more, and curled up on the matting, near the
heating apparatus, munching a biscuit.
"How do you feel now, Top?" he asked, stooping to see his face.
"Pretty bobbish, thanks, Brady," was the answer, and it told that Toppin
was himself again.
"You'll have to look sharp if you want a dip, Brady," called Green.
"Andy'll be round in a minute, I expect."
"Thanks! I'm not bathing to-day," was the response.
Just then Escombe Trevelyan, who was swimming lazily about, landed
at the steps close by, and beckoned Jack to come nearer.
"I want to hear the truth of this affair, Brady," he began in a
confidential undertone. "Did you see it happen?"
"Which part? I saw the March Hare leap in with his hat on his head and
his towel on his arm. He did look properly mad, I can tell you!"
"I mean before that, when Toppin went under."
"They say he actually took a dive from the board, don't they?"
"Yes, but I want to get hold of someone who saw it. I can't understand
his being such an absolute little fool, and I can't worry the kid himself

about it just at present."
So saying, Escombe swam off once more.
Armitage was the next to approach Jack. He looked rather pale, but
began by talking rapidly about a paper-chase that was being planned.
Jack knew well enough that this was not what he wanted to talk about,
but he walked away from the bath with him, still pleasantly discussing
starts and times, till they found themselves alone on the stone stairs.
Then Armitage came to a stand-still, and his tone changed.
"Brady, I want to speak to you; I want to explain, you know, about
Toppin."
"Oh, I saw you push!" remarked Jack bluntly.
"I'm not going to deny it, but do you know that he begged me to? You
came in too late to hear that."
"If I hand you a pistol and ask you to shoot me, will you do it?"
"Don't be a fool, Brady. There was no danger. I shouldn't have let him
drown."
"He precious nearly did."
"That was the March Hare's fault. I shouldn't have let him sink again."
"Then you think you were right to push him in, Armitage? I don't. Shall
we ask Anderson's opinion?"
"No, Jack, I beg and implore you to keep it dark. Of course I should
never do it again. But Simmons and Bacon have sworn not to bring me
into the affair. Toppin knows it was his own fault, and is a bit ashamed
of it. There's only the March Hare besides yourself. I thought perhaps
you might persuade him--"
A shadow darkened the open entrance. There was a stamping on the
door-mat, and then Mr. Anderson appeared on the stairs. Jack advanced

to meet him.
"Finished your bath, Brady?"
"Yes, sir. I mean, I haven't had one. All the rest have. I wanted to tell
you there's been a little--a little commotion, sir."
"What on earth do you mean? Not an accident?"
"No, sir; only it might have been. Toppin--little Trevelyan, that is--got
into the deep end, and the March Hare--you know the boy I mean,
sir--he thought he was drowning, and jumped in after him with his
things on, and so they had to haul them both out. Toppin's as right as a
trivet again, and as warm as a toast. And the Hare isn't hurt either, but
he has to sit in a blanket and wait for his clothes to dry."
Mr. Anderson looked very agitated, and his voice betrayed his feelings.
"Why couldn't you behave as if I was with you? Really, it is absurd to
think that all you elder lads