ltry for him. Also, he
informed the Duffer and John that, by virtue of his position, he
proposed to prepare no work at all. Each "con" was divided into two
equal parts: the Duffer "mugged" up one; John the other. Then the
Caterpillar would be summoned, and glean the harvest. The Duffer had a
crib or two, but the Caterpillar forbade their use.

"You kids," said he, "ought not to use 'Bohns.' Besides, it's
dangerous."

The Caterpillar's deportment and coolness filled John and the Duffer
with respect and admiration. The master in charge of the Lower Remove
happened to be short-sighted. The Caterpillar took shameful advantage of
this. At repetitions, for instance, he would read Horace's odes off a
torn-out page concealed in the palm of his hand, or--if practicable--pin
the page on to the master's desk.

He had genius for extricating himself (and others) out of what boys call
tight places. One anecdote, well known to the Lower School and repeated
as proof of the Caterpillar's masterly methods, may serve to illustrate
the sort of influence Egerton wielded. When he was in the Fourth, his
form met in the Old Schools in a room not far from that august chamber
used by the Head Master and Upper Sixth. One day, the master in charge
of the form happened to be late. The small boys in the passage
celebrated his absence with dance and song. When the belated man
arrived, a monitor awaited him. The Head Master presented his
compliments to Mr. A---- and wished to learn the names of the boys who
had created such a scandalous disturbance. Mr. A---- invited the
roysterers to give up their names under penalties of extra school.
Hateful necessity! Silence succeeded. A---- grew irate. The monitor
tried to conceal a smile.

"Any boy who was making any noise at all--stand up."

The Caterpillar rose slowly, long and thin, spick and span.

"If you please, sir," said he, "I was _whispering_!"

A----'s sense of humour was tickled.

"My compliments to the Head Master," said he, "and please tell him that
I find, on careful inquiry, that Egerton was--whispering."

A shout of laughter from Olympus proclaimed that the message had been
delivered. The Caterpillar had saved the situation.

John became a disciple of this accomplished young gentleman and tried
to imitate him. For Egerton represented, faithfully enough, traditions
to which John bowed the knee. Upon any point of schoolboy honour his
authority ruled supreme. He told the truth among hi