Tom, Dick and Harry | Page 7

was ever more emphatically answered in the affirmative.
"I hoped it would be unnecessary to ask the question twice," said Dr Plummer. "I decline to accept silence as an answer. Let the head boy come forward."
Tempest left his place and advanced to the desk.
"Tempest, do you know anything of this matter?"
"No, sir," said Tempest.
I felt the skin on the top of my head grow tight, and my breath catch in my throat. Never had I known the Dux to tell a he to any one. What was I to do when my turn came?
"Go to your seat. The next boy come forward."
Parkin obeyed, and answered the question with a clear negative.
"The next boy."
The next boy was Faulkner, who I suspected would fain have been able to say he knew anything. But for once he was at fault, and had to reply with an apologetic "No."
In due time it was Dicky's turn.
"Do you know anything of the matter, Brown?"
"No, sir," said Brown, almost noisily.
The doctor looked at him keenly, and then ordered him to his place.
"Jones, come forward."
I felt the blood fly out of my cheeks and my heart jump to my mouth as I obeyed. As I passed up the room I glanced nervously at the Dux where he sat listlessly regarding the scene. But he took no notice of me.
"Jones," said the doctor, "do you known anything of this matter?"
The words would not come; and I glanced around again for succour.
"Turn your face to me, sir," thundered the doctor, "and answer my question."
What could I say? Where could I look? The question was repeated once more.
"I only know I fancy I heard a shot in the night." I stammered at last.
A flutter of interest went round the room. Failing all other clues it evidently seemed to be something to most of those present to elicit even this.
"Why did you not say so when you were asked this morning?"
No answer.
"Do you hear me, sir?"
"Please, sir, I couldn't be sure I had not been dreaming."
"When did you hear this sound?"
"I don't know what time, sir; I had been asleep."
"Was it light or dark?"
"Dark."
"Is that all you heard?"
"I thought I heard a yell, too."
"Did you get up or wake any of the others?"
"No, sir."
"Did you do nothing at all?"
"I was frightened, sir, and hid under the clothes."
"Is that all?"
Wasn't it about enough? I thought.
"Yes, sir."
I staggered back to my seat like a wounded man after a fray. I knew I had lost caste with the fellows; I had seriously compromised myself with the head master. At least, I told myself, I had escaped the desperate fate of saying anything against the Dux. For the sake of that, I could afford to put up with the other two consequences.
The grand inquest came to an end. One candid youth admitted that all he knew of the matter was that he was very glad Hector was dead, and for this impious irrelevance he was ordered to write an appalling imposition and forfeit several half-holidays. But that, for the time being, was the worst thunderbolt that fell from the doctor's armoury.
The Dux was kindly waiting for me outside. If he was grateful to me he concealed his feelings wonderfully; for he seized me by the coat collar and invited me to step with him to a quiet retreat where he administered the soundest thrashing I had had that term without interruption.
Explanation, I knew, would be of no avail. Tempest made a point of always postponing an explanation till after the deed was done.
When at length I gathered myself together, and inquired as pleasantly as I could to what special circumstances I was indebted for this painful incident, he replied--
"For being an idiot and a sneak. Get away, or I'll kick you."
Brown, whom I presently encountered, put the matter rather more precisely.
"Well," said he, "you told about as much as you could. How sorry you must have been not to tell more!"
"Don't, Dicky;" said I; "I--I--"
"You're almost as big an ass as you look," said Dicky, "and that's saying something. Come and see my experiment."
I was not in a scientific mood, but anything was welcome to change the subject. So I took Dicky's arm and went.
Dicky was a queer boy. He was of an inventive turn of mind, and given up to science. His experiments rarely succeeded, and when they did they almost invariably landed him in disgrace. Still he persevered and hoped some day to make a hit.
He explained to me, as we walked down the garden, that he had lately been taking an interest in the pond.
It was all I could do to appear only moderately interested in this announcement. Had not I an interest in the pond too? What followed was even more uncomfortable.
"You know Lesseps and all those chaps?" said he.
"He left before I