ldn't
tell a cram about it."

"Rather not!" chimed we.

"Very well. Then I don't see that I can do much good," said the
magistrate. "Dr England will know better how to deal with the matter.
An accident is an accident after all; and if I may give an opinion,
these boys have done quite properly in coming here and telling all about
it. Little boys should not be allowed to play with explosives. At the
same time, you must allow me to say, Mr Jarman, that it is unfortunate
for a master to put himself in the position of being made the subject of
an effigy. As for Tempest, there is absolutely nothing against him,
unless according to the rules of the school it is an offence for a boy
who is locked up in a dark room at night to do his best to get out. It
is a great pity the matter was brought to me at all; but as it has been,
my advice is to let it rest where it is. Meanwhile, this poor fellow
who has been injured has some claim, and I dare say this sovereign will
help get him the necessary bandages and plaster for his forehead. Good
morning, Dr England; good morning, Mr Jarman. Good day, my lads. Let
this be a lesson against touch-paper tongues." So ended the famous
affair of Mr Jarman's guy.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

GOING DOWN STREAM.

If any one supposed that Low Heath had heard the last of Mr Jarman's
guy they little knew Mr Jarman, or Tempest, or the Philosophers. The
ghost of that unhappy effigy was hardly likely to be laid by a simple
magisterial decision.

Mr Jarman, it was rumoured, had a bad quarter of an hour with the
doctor that evening, and went about his ordinary work for the next few
days with a scowl which boded no good to any one who chanced to cross
him, least of all to those of us who had contributed to his defeat.

Tempest, on the other hand, took his victory coolly. He talked it over
with his chums, and came to the conclusion that they were quits with the
enemy and could afford to leave him alone. But it was plain to see that
he had suffered a jar, which found expression in his reckless unconcern
for the duties of his position as head of his house, and an increased
disinclination to make any exertion for the credit of a school which, he
considered, had treated him ill. What troubled me most was to notice
that his spirits had flagged, and that he was dropping slowly into the
listless indifference which had made Pridgin only a term ago shirk his
responsibilities to the school.

Towards