oys standing up before him, till one or two dropped down, stunned with
the blows. At last he dropped the ruler, and, pressing both hands to
his stomach, he rolled himself backwards and forwards, and then twisted
and distorted his legs till he could bear the pain no longer; and he
gave vent to a tremendous Irish howl--grinning and grinding his teeth
for a few seconds, and then howling again, writhing and twisting in
evident agony--while the perspiration ran off his forehead.

"Och! murder! I'm poisoned sure. Lord save my sinful soul! Oh--oh--
oh! eh--eh--eh! mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy! Oh holy St. Patrick!
I'm kilt entirely:"--and so subdued was he at last by the pain, that he
burst out into a flood of tears, crying and roaring like a child.

Again the paroxysms came on--"Murder, murder, murder!" shrieked the
wretch at the highest pitch of his voice, so that he was heard at some
distance, and some of the neighbours came in to inquire what was the
matter.

Mr O'Gallagher was now in a fainting state, and leaning against the
table, he could merely say in a low voice, "A doctor--quick--a doctor."

The neighbours perceiving how ill he was, led him out of the
school-rooms into his own apartment, one going for a doctor, and the
others telling the boys they might all go home, a notice of which they
gladly availed themselves.

I need hardly say, that I made all the haste I could to communicate the
successful result of my trick to Milly and Captain Bridgeman. The
medical man who was summoned, gave Mr O'Gallagher some very active
medicine, which assisted to rid him of the calomel; of his having taken
which, of course, the medical man was ignorant. The violence of the
dose was, however, so great, and left him in such a state, that Mr
O'Gallagher could not leave his room for three days, nor resume his seat
in the school until a week had elapsed, during which I remained at home
plotting still further mischief.

Mr O'Gallagher resumed his occupations, and I was again sent off to
school. When I entered the school-room I found him looking very pale
and cadaverous; as soon as he saw me his lips were drawn apart, and he
showed his large white teeth, reminding me of the grinning of a hyena;
he did not, however, say anything to me. My studies were resumed; I
said my lesson perfectly, but was fully prepared for punishment. I was,
however, agreeably disappointed; he did not punish either me or any of
the other boys.

I