On the Banks of the Amazon | Page 6

centre, and a vast number of boys of all ages were running about. Some had hoops, others were jumping over long ropes, and others, with reins fastened to their arms held by bigger boys, were scampering round and round, playing at horses. Some were leaping over each other's backs, and others were hopping about with their arms folded charging at each other. I thought it very good fun, and hoped that was the way they were always employed.
The tall gentleman, after waiting a minute or two, called out, "Antony Nyass, come here. Here is the son of an old friend of your father's. I expect you to look after him."
Then he turned round to me, and said, "When the bell rings, you will come in with the rest, and we will lose no time in placing you."
"And so you are the new boy," said my companion. "What is your name?" I told him. "Well, I am very glad you are come," he observed, "for I want a chum. We will have all sorts of fun together. Will you have a hoop? I have got a prime one which beats all those of the fellows in my class; or will you go shares in a pair of leather reins?" I told him that I should be very glad to do what he liked, and that I had plenty of money, though I could not say how much, as I was not accustomed to English coin, and could not remember what it was called. "Oh, I will soon put you up to that," he said, laughing; "but do not show it now. We will see by-and-by what you can do with it."
While we were speaking, a number of other boys collected round us, and began to ask me all sorts of questions--who I was, who my friends were, where I had come from, how old I was, and if I had ever been to another school.
"Do not tell them," whispered Nyass.
"What is that you are saying, Master Tony!" exclaimed one of the boys. "You are putting him up to some of your own tricks."
"I will tell you all by-and-by," I answered, taking my new friend's hint.
"Can you run?" asked Tony. "Tell them that you will race any one of them," he whispered.
"I do not know, but I will try," I replied.
"Who is for a race?" exclaimed Tony. "He will run you down to the bottom of the play-ground and back again, and if he does not beat all the fellows of his own size I shall be surprised."
I was light and active, and though I had never before run a race, having no companions to run with, I did my best to follow out Tony's suggestion. At the word, off I set as hard as I could tear; five or six other fellows besides Tony ran also. He kept up with me, though we distanced the rest. He touched the wall at the bottom, and I followed his example.
"Now, back again as hard as you can go! I am the best runner of my size in the school," he cried out, as he kept close to me; "if you beat me, your fame is established, and the fellows will treat you with respect after that."
I felt, however, very doubtful whether I could beat Tony; but I did my best, and as we neared the point we started from I found myself drawing ahead of him. "That is it!" he shouted; "keep on, and you will do it." I suspected that he was letting me get ahead of him on purpose, and I reached the starting-point four or five paces before him. I felt, however, that I could not have run another minute if my life had depended on it; while he came in without the slightest panting. The other fellows followed mostly together, a short distance behind.
It is curious how slight a thing gives a boy a position at once in a school. Thanks to Tony, I gained one at once, and ever afterwards kept it. I do not intend to give an account of my school-life and adventures, as I have more interesting matter to describe. I was placed in the lowest class, as might have been expected. Although I knew nothing of Latin, I was up to several things which my class-mates were not, and as I did my best to learn, I soon caught up a number of them. My friend Tony was in the class above me, and he was always ready to give me any help. Though not quarrelsome, I had several battles to fight, and got into scrapes now and then, but not often, and altogether I believed I was getting on pretty well. Tony, my first acquaintance, remained my firm friend. Although now and then