ly after the rest, who had at once rushed off from the room.

Being the last, when I got outside the door, all the boys had
disappeared, with the exception of Tom, whom I found waiting for me at
the head of the stairs.

I felt inclined to be indignant with him at first for not speaking up
for me and contradicting the false statement of Slodgers; but Tom soon
persuaded me that such a course on his part would probably only have
increased my punishment and brought him in for it as well, without doing
good to either of us, or harming the cur who had told such lies about
me.

"Dr Hellyer," said Tom, "always takes everything Slodgers says for
gospel, and it's not a bit of use going against him when brought to
book. The only way for you to pay him out, Martin, will be to learn to
use your fists properly, and give him a good thrashing some day when we
are out of doors. You will then only get some more `pandies' like what
you had just now, and I think the gratification of punching his head
ought to be worth that."

"Right you are, Tom," I replied. "I'm game for it: I will never feel
happy till I make him acknowledge the lie he told to-day against me."

"Bravo, that's hearty," said Tom. "You're a big fellow for your age,
and with a little training will soon be a match for that cur, as he's a
coward at heart. But, look here, Martin--see, I didn't forget you, as I
believe you thought I did at tea-time. I saved this for you, as I could
see you were hungry."

The good-hearted chap had managed to stow away a thick slice of bread-
and-butter in his trousers pocket, and this he now brought out and
handed to me. It was dirty and greasy, and had little bits of paper
sticking to it, from the mixed assortment of articles amidst which it
had been crammed; but, as it was the first morsel of food I had given me
after my long fast, I received it from my chum with the utmost
gratitude, putting my teeth through it without delay. I really think
that it was the most appetising thing I had ever tasted in my life, up
to the present, and I longed for more when I had finished it up,
although, alas, no more was then to be had!

Little as it was, however, this slight apology for a meal made me feel
better and stronger; so, I told Tom, after I had swallowed the bread-
and-butter, that I was fit for anything, which pleased him very much.

"You're just the sort of fellow I thought you were," said he, clapping
me on the back. "I have been l