Ernest Bracebridge | Page 7

about a hundred yards off, for
prisons.
"Chevy, chevy, chevy!" shouted Buttar, rushing out.
Bouldon gave chase after him. They were looked upon as cocks of their
set, and the chase was exciting. Bouldon was very nearly catching
Buttar, when Ernest darted out to his rescue. Now, Tommy, you must
put your best leg foremost or you will be caught to a certainty. What
twisting and turning, what dodging there was. Now Bouldon had
almost caught up Buttar, but the latter, stooping down, was off again
under his very hands, and turning suddenly, was off once more behind
his back.
"'Ware the new boy; 'ware young Bracebridge," was the shout from
Bouldon's side.
Tommy was in hot chase after Buttar, and there seemed every
probability of his catching him. On hearing the cry, he looked over his

shoulder and saw Ernest close to him. He had now to think of his own
safety. From what he had observed of the new boy, he saw, that though
he was a new boy, and had never been at school before, he was not to
be despised. He had therefore to imitate Buttar's tactics, and to dodge
away from his pursuer.
Ernest had evidently been accustomed chiefly to run straight forward;
he was very fleet of foot, but had not practised the art of twisting and
turning. Another boy of Bouldon's side now ran out in pursuit of Ernest,
who, having executed his purpose of rescuing Buttar, returned in
triumph to his base, while one of his side ran out, and, touching the boy
who had gone out against him, carried him off to the prison.
Several others were taken; Bouldon at length was caught, so was Buttar,
but he was quickly rescued by Ernest, whose side was at length
victorious, having committed every one of the others to prison.
Ernest, who had contributed very largely to this success, pronounced it
a capital game. He gained also a good deal of credit by the way he had
played it, especially when it was known that it was for the first time,
and that he had never been at school before. The way in which his
companions treated him put him in very good spirits, and he became
sufficiently satisfied with himself and with everything around him. He
felt that he could do a number of things, but he was diffident from not
knowing of what value they might be considered by other boys. He had
heard that some savages despised the purest pearls, while they set a
high value on bits of glittering glass, and so he thought that some of his
accomplishments might be very little thought of by other boys.
However, by the time the tea-bell rang, he had fully established himself
in the good opinions of most of the younger boys; even two or three of
the elder ones pronounced him to be a plucky little chap.
The evening was spent in a fine large hall which had been fitted up for
playing. Before each breaking-up a platform was raised at one end, and
speeches were delivered from it, and more than once it had been fitted
up as a theatre, and the boys had got up, with some effect, some
well-selected plays. There were some tables and desks at one end, and
rows of shelves on which were placed boxes and baskets, and cages

with birds and tame mice, and indeed all sorts of small pets. A few of
the quieter boys went in that direction, but the greater number began to
play a variety of noisy games.
"I say, who's for a game of high-cock-o'lorum?" exclaimed Bouldon.
"I, I, I," answered several voices.
"Come along, Bracebridge, try your hand at it."
Ernest declined at first, for he did not much admire having a number of
fellows jumping over his head and sitting on his shoulders, but Tommy
pressed him so hard that at last he consented to try. His side was to
leap.
"Go on, go on!" shouted Buttar.
Ernest had for some time practised vaulting; he ran, measuring his
distance, and sprang over the heads of all the boys right up to the wall.
"Bravo!" cried Buttar, delighted, "you'll do, I see; there's no fear of you
now."
Ernest felt much pleased by the praise bestowed on him by his new
friend, and turning round he waved to the other boys to come on. The
last boy failed, and his side had to go under. He proved as staunch,
however, with two heavy boys on his shoulders, as any of the most
practised players, and his side were much oftener riders than horses.
"I say, though, you don't mean to say, Bracebridge, that you have never
been to school before?" said Buttar, as they were summoned away to
their