do a little more good, or even a little less well, harm,
you know, in Templeton than you do?"

"Most noble captain, we must see what can be done," said Pledge,
colouring a trifle, as he left the room.

"I've lost my pull on him, I suppose," said the captain, taking up his
"Pickwick."

"By Jove! I wish I could make up my mind to kick him!"

CHAPTER EIGHT.

IN WHICH HEATHCOTE BECOMES INTERESTING.

Pledge was a type of fellow unfortunately not uncommon in some public
schools, whom it is not easy to describe by any other word than
dangerous. To look at him, to speak to him, to hear him, the ordinary
observer would notice very little to single him out from fifty other
boys of the same age and condition. He was clever, good-humoured, and
obliging, he was a fine cricketer and lawn tennis player, he was rarely
overtaken in any breach of school rules and he was decidedly lenient in
the use of his monitorial authority.

For all that, fellows steered clear of him, or, when they came across
him, felt uncomfortable till they could get out of his way. There were
ugly stories about the harm he had done to more than one promising
simple-minded young Templetonian in days past who had had the ill-luck
to come under his influence. And although, as usual, such stories were
exaggerated, it was pretty well-known why this plausible small boys'
friend was called "spider" by his enemies, who envied no one who fell
into his web.

Heathcote accordingly came in for very little congratulation that
evening after Elections when he was formally sworn in to the Den as the
"spider's" fag and was thoroughly frightened by the stories he heard and
the still more alarming mysterious hints that were dropped for his
benefit.

However, like a philosopher as he was, he determined to enjoy himself
while he could, and therefore entered with spirit into the lively
proceedings of that evening's Den.

That important institution was, our heroes discovered, by no means an
assembly of one idea. Although its leading motive might be said to be
disorder, it existed for other purposes as well; as was clearly set
forth in the articles of admission administered to each new boy on
joining its honourable company.

Terrible and sweeping were the "affirmations" each Denite was required
to make on the top of a crib to Caesar's Commentaries.

(1) "I promise to stick by every chap of the Den whenever I am called
upon."

(2) "I promise never to sneak, or