Jack of Both Sides | Page 6

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 can't manage to keep an eye on the juniors for twenty minutes. Where are these two boys? Take me to them directly! What do you suppose Mr. West will say? He'll certainly be extremely angry with you all. I shouldn't be surprised if he stops your coming here."
"We wondered whether you would feel obliged to tell him, sir," said Jack thoughtfully. "Of course, if you must, you must; but it doesn't seem as if there was much to be gained by it, does there? The March Hare and Toppin have learnt their lesson pretty thoroughly."
Mr. Anderson frowned and bit his finger, and the toe of his boot tap-tapped on the ground. It was evident he was undecided. Presently he looked at Jack.
"You mean that, provided I find these two lads absolutely none the worse for their ducking, you beg me, as a great favour, not to carry a report to Mr. West?"
"Yes, sir," Jack responded briskly.
"Well, I won't promise, but I'll think it over."
Mr. Anderson's thought ended in a decision which he announced to