ran against it, sir, that's all. I wouldn't have hurt him,
sir, for the world, as I know your orders, sir, about fighting."

"Good boy! I'm glad you pay attention to my wishes, Slodgers, and as
the fight wasn't of your seeking, I'll let you off without an
imposition, as I had at first intended. You can go back to your place,
Slodgers. I see--ah--ha--too, you've been punished already, which is
another reason for my leniency;" and so saying, the Doctor dismissed
him.

Would you believe it? That cur went down the long room again with the
most unblushing effrontery, after telling those flagrant falsehoods he
had done about me! I really don't know which I was the more angry
with--at him, for cooking up that story about me, or with Dr Hellyer
for believing him! The latter had not done with me yet, however.

"Now, my pugilistic young friend," he said to me aloud, so that all the
boys could hear, "you and I have a little account to settle together.
Hold out your hand!"

Nerving myself up to the inevitable, I stretched out my right palm; and
"whish"--with the sound that a flail makes when wielded by an
experienced thresher--Dr Hellyer came down, right across my fingers,
with a tingling blow from a broad flat ruler, which he must have kept
concealed behind his back, as I had not seen it before. He seemed to
throw all his strength into the stroke.

The pain made me jump, but I didn't cry out or make the slightest
exclamation. I would have bitten my lips through first; for all the
boys were looking on, with the expectation probably of hearing me yell
out--especially that sneak Slodgers, who, I made up my mind, should not
be gratified by any exhibition of yielding on my part.

"The other now!" cried the Doctor; and, "whack" came a second dose of
the flat ruler on my left digits.

"The right again!" sang out the big brute, I obeying without wincing
after the first stroke; and so he went on, flaying my poor hands until
he had given me six "pandies," as the boys called the infliction, on
each, by which time both of my palms were as raw as a piece of ordinary
beefsteak, and, I'm certain, far more tender.

"That will do for a first lesson--ah--Martin Leigh," said my tormentor,
when he had concluded this performance. "You can go now, but, mark me,
the next time I hear of your fighting you shall have a double portion!
Boys, you're dismissed."

With these parting words, Dr Hellyer waved me off; on which I followed
slow