ion of the exercise which he would
have next day, and the pleasure which his lads were having to-day--and
nothing more entirely endeared Bulldog to his savages than the fact
that, instead of going home to dinner during this hour, which was his
usual custom, he contented himself with a biscuit. He was obliged to buy
it in a baker's shop in Breadalbane Street, from which he could command
a perfect view of the whole battle, especially as he happened to stand
in the doorway of the shop, and never returned to school till the crisis
of war was over. He was careful to explain to the school that he had
himself gone for the purpose of identifying the ringleaders in mischief,
and it was on such an occasion that Speug, keeping his right cheek
immovable towards Bulldog, would wink to the assembled school with
irresistible effect.

Nor ought one to forget the janitor of Muirtown Seminary, who had been a
sergeant in the Black Watch and had been wounded three times in the
Crimean War. His orders, as given by the Rector and reinforced by all
law-abiding parents, were to prevent any boy of the Seminary leaving the
school for the purpose of a snowball fight, and should such an
unfortunate affair take place he was directed to plunge into the midst
and by force of arm to bring the Seminaries home to their own fireside,
leaving rough and rude schools like the Pennies and McIntyre's to fight
at their wicked will. For did not the Seminary lads move in polite
society, except Speug, and were they not going to be, as they have
become, clergymen and lawyers, and physicians, to say nothing of bailies
on the bench and elders of the Kirk? These orders Sergeant Dougal
McGlashan carried out, not so much in the bondage of the letter as in
the fulness of the spirit. Many were the conversations which Speug and
he had together in anticipation of the snow time, when you may believe
if you please that that peaceable man was exhorting Speug to obedience
and gentleness, or if you please that he was giving the commander of the
Seminary certain useful hints which he himself had picked up from the
"red line" at Balaclava. Certain it is that when the Seminaries went out
that day in battle array the sergeant was engaged mending the fires with
great diligence, so that he was not able to see them depart. Afterwards
it was the merest duty for him to stand at the end of the passage of
victory, lest the Pennies or any other person should venture on another
outrage; and