On the Banks of the Amazon | Page 6

high walls on either side. A big tree stood in the
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