leaders, and one side occupied the
mound. Then, all parties having provided themselves with many sods of
turf, cut with their bread-and-cheese knives, the side which remained at
the bottom proceeded to assault the mound, advancing upon all sides
under cover of a heavy fire of turfs, and then struggling for victory
with the occupants, which was theirs as soon as they could, even for a
moment, clear the summit, when they in turn became the besieged. It was
a good rough dirty game, and of great use in counteracting the sneaking
tendencies of the school. Then others of the boys spread over the downs,
looking for the holes of humble-bees and mice, which they dug up without
mercy, often (I regret to say) killing and skinning the unlucky mice,
and (I do not regret to say) getting well stung by the humble-bees.
Others went after butterflies and birds'-eggs in their seasons; and Tom
found on Hazeldown, for the first time, the beautiful little blue
butterfly with golden spots on his wings, which he had never seen on his
own downs, and dug out his first sand-martin's nest. This latter
achievement resulted in a flogging, for the sand-martins built in a high
bank close to the village, consequently out of bounds; but one of the
bolder spirits of the school, who never could be happy unless he was
doing something to which risk attached, easily persuaded Tom to break
bounds and visit the martin's bank. From whence it being only a step to
the toffy-shop, what could be more simple than to go on there and fill
their pockets; or what more certain than that on their return, a
distribution of treasure having been made, the usher should shortly
detect the forbidden smell of bulls'-eyes, and, a search ensuing,
discover the state of the breeches-pockets of Tom and his ally?

This ally of Tom's was indeed a desperate hero in the sight of the boys,
and feared as one who dealt in magic, or something approaching thereto.
Which reputation came to him in this wise. The boys went to bed at
eight, and of course consequently lay awake in the dark for an hour or
two, telling ghost-stories by turns. One night when it came to his turn,
and he had dried up their souls by his story, he suddenly declared that
he would make a fiery hand appear on the door; and to the astonishment
and terror of the boys in his room, a hand, or something like it, in
pale light, did then and there appear. The fame of this exploit having
spread to the other rooms, and being discred