JACK HARKAWAY AT OXFORD BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES JACK HARKAWAY AT OXFORD BY 8RACEBRIDGE HEMYNG CHICAGO: M. A, DONOHVE & CO. A. DONOHUE ity fellows are stuck up and no mistake. I wanted to ;>e kind ; the bulldogs have been in, and I don't think hey are far off now. " Jack remained silent. " I'll tell you what I'll do," Gooch went on, " I'll give ou a game at billiards." " You can't play," said Jack, looking up. JA CK HA RA'A WAY AT OXFORD. \ i 5 ' ' Can't I ? By Jove ! I'll play you for a fiver, and post the money." "I don't gamble." " Say half-a-crown then, that won't break your bank/ "Very well, I'll play you for half-a-crown, fifty up, and give you forty-nine out of fifty ; and I'll bet you won't have a stroke in the game if you give me the break," said Jack. "What ! " replied Gooch, " you make fifty at a break ? Not you." " I didn't say so," replied Jack. " All I say is that I'll play you fifty up for the table, and bet you half-a-crown that, if I have the break, you won't have a stroke in the game." "Not have a stroke in the game," repeated Gooch thoughtfully ; "and give me forty-nine out of fifty ? " "That's what I said." "Very well, done with you. Fire away." Jack took up a cue, chalked it, and placed his ball in balk. He purposely made a miss. " Forty-nine, love," said the marker. "A miss made ; game to you, Mr. Gooch." " I have won," said Gooch. "Have you? I don't see it," replied Jack laughing. *' You haven't had a stroke in the game." " Oh," answered Gooch, with a grin. "You've won the game, and I pay sixpence for the table, but I win my bet of half-a-crown that you shouldn't have a stroke in the game ; therefore I make two bob. Half-crown. Thank you. Marker, take sixpence." "Well," replied Gooch, looking rather foolish, "I've lost that. You can afford to stand drinks." "Not I, "said Jack. " You've had me." " I meant to," replied Jack. "How do you feel over it ? Now you can go on with your game with the marker, and perhaps you won't be so very familiar with strangers next time." Gooch looked very sulky. He put on his hat took up his stick, and walked to the door. " Hullo ! " he exclaimed, darting back, " the senior proctor, by Jove. " j 16 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. Jack and Harvey jumped up like lightning. They looked at the window, but there was no escape- 'Get under the table, Dick," cried Jack 'They'll see me there," said Harvey. ' No, they won't. I'll open the window, and say you got out that way." ' But y ou ? " ' I'm all right. You'll see a lark with the proctor. " ' What do you mean to do ? " ' Leave that to me. Under you go, quick ! " cried Jack. Harvey crept under the table, and the next moment the proctor with his marshals entered the room. " Your name and college, sir? " asked the proctor, with a severe expression. " Harkaway, of St. Aldate's," replied Jack. " I think I have seen you before." "No, sir, never had the honour of an interview pre- viously." " Hum ! "said the proctor. "Where is your compan- ion ? " "My companion ?" " Yes : we saw two of you through the window." "Ah, indeed, "said Jack, "very negligent of the pro- prietor of this hotel not to put up blinds. I will re- monstrate with him." "But your friend, where is he? I demand an answer, sir." "Got through the window, I think, sir," exclaimed Jack. "He was so frightened, when he heard you were coming, that he said he would take refuge in the sewer. " "The sewer! Nonsense. Did you say the sewer, Mr. Harkaway ? " " I did, sir," replied Jack. "Dear me, that is odd," said the proctor, who was much puzzled. Suddenly Jack imitated Harvey's voice and, using his wonderful power of ventriloquism, caused a sepulchral voice to issue from under the floor. " Help, help ! " cried the voice. " I have got into the sewer ; the water is carrying me to the river. Help, help ! I shall be drowned " JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. i j 7 "God bless me! Foolish young man! what has he 4one ? " said the proctor. The bulldogs looked blankly at one another. As for Jack he did not move a muscle of his face. CHAPTER XVIII. IN THE SEWER- HARVEY continued to lie like a log under the table, Jhough he would have given the world to be able to laugh. Knowing Jack's power and his liking for fun, he could guess what was coming. Looking at Jack very gravely, the proctor exclaimed " How did your friend get into the sewer? " "That's more than I can tell you, sir, though I think there is a trap in the yard, which leads to it," replied Jack. " What is to be done? " " Call the police, sir. Do something for him. I expect the tide is carrying him down to the river. It is dreadful to think that that he may be stifled in the fetid waters." "So it is. Speak to him and see where he is now." Jack went down on his hands and knees, and shouted " Harvey ! " There was no answer. " He's gone, sir," cried Jack. "Come into the street ; there is a grating there. He would be carried that way." "Ah, yes, the street. We must get assistance. Per^ haps with men and pickaxes we can yet save the foolish fellow," answered the proctor. In a state of intense excitement, proctor, bulldogs, landlord, and every one connected with the establish- ment, ran into the street. "For Heaven's sake ! save me ! I can't hold on much longer," cried a voice beneath their feet. "There he is. Thank God ! he lives," exclaimed the proctor. "Get pickaxes," cried the landlord. "I'll give five pounds out of my own pocket to the man who saves him." "And I will give twenty," said the proctor. " Get pickaxes ! Get pickaxes ! " cried the crowd, which increased rapidly every moment. 1 18 JACK HARKA WAY aT OXFORD. 44 What is it ? " asked one of another. "The proctor was after a 'varsity man," answered Jack in a whisper ; " and to avoid him, he crept into the sewer and can't get back again." This information flew from one to another. The proctor and his attendants were never very popular, either with the towns people or the undergraduates. A thrill of horror ran through the crowd. "Cries of " Shame ! " arose Seeing he had stimulated the spectators to the proper point, Jack leant over a narrow grating. "I hear him," he said; "he is holding on to part of the brickwork. How the water is rushing towards the river. Save, oh ! save my friend ! " " We will we will, or perish in the attempt, "answered several men wh had arrived with picks and spades. They began with considerable energy to break up the street At intervals, faint moans and shrieks seemed to come out of the bowels of the earth. "Workaway, my men, work away, "said the proctor. In a short time, a deep hole was made in the road. It seemed as if they were coming to the drowning man now. ' ' Are you alive still ? " asked Jack. "Yes, but I am sinking fast," replied the voice. " Hear that ? He's sinking 1 " exclaimed a man in the crowd " I say it's a burning shame that these proctors should kill men in this way." "Let's stone them," remarked another. The attitude of the crowd became threatening. ' ' Do nothing rashly, " exclaimed Jack. ' ' Our first duty is to rescue Mr. Harvey of St. Aldate's who is in the sewer. " Suddenly the voice below said " I am going ! I can hold on no longer. Save me 5 Oh, help, help ! " " He's gone," said Jack. "Go to the river. We may catch him at the mouth of the sewer. " There was a rush down the street to the bridge at the top of Castle Street, where the sewer emptied itself into the river. A dozen strong men threw themselves into the river. Suddenly a voice rang out on the opposite bank. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. i ig "Sold again," it said. "I've done you this time, sir, I've got out, and I'm off to college." "What's the meaning of this ? " asked the proctor, look- ing round angrily. "Ha, ha, ha ! " roared the voice, disappearing in the distance. The people seemed pleased to think that the under- graduate had escaped. " Never mind, sir," observed one of the bulldogs. "We've got their names." "Where's Mr. Harkaway ? " asked the proctor. Jack had disappeared in the confusion. " Bonnet 'em ! " said a rough. "They ain't got no hats, only flat caps," said another. Hustled and bustled and pushed about the proctor and his satellites were glad to make their escape. While the crowd were dispersing and talking over the wonderful occurrence Jack hastened back to the hotel. Harvey was liquoring up at the bar. The landlord had just returned, and was astonished to see Harvey. " How did you do it? " he asked. ' ' Harka way's a ventriloquist. Hold your noise, " replied Harvey. "Keep it quiet," said Jack. "We can have many a spree this winter." " It's a licker to me how you do it," said the landlord. "I thought he was in the sewer." " Of course you did." "But if I'd stopped to think, I might have known there was no entrance to it in my back yard." "That's the beauty of it," returned Jack. "People don't stop to think." "Suppose we have a bottle of fiz after that ? " remarked Harvey. "I'm agreeable," replied Jack. " Do you think the proctor will say anything to us ? " asked Harvey. "No, I don't. We shall be let off this time. He doesn't know whether he's been made a fool of or not," replied Jack. They had the wine, and went back to college, chuck- ling over the adventure. 120 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. Jack was right for once ; the proctor did not seuv^ ^* them, and the affair was passed over. While Jack was putting on his flannels to go foi tht row to Abingdon, his scout brought in a letter. He hastily tore it open. "It's from home. Excuse me, Dick, will you, while I read it ? " said he. Harvey nodded. Presently Jack exclaimed " Emily has arrived from Paris, and after the Christmas vacation she is to take the position of a governess a little way out of Oxford." " Won't that be jolly ?" ' 'Awfully. I should like to have her near us ; and here's, an invitation for you to come and spend a fortnight with us." " Your governor's a trump," said Harvey. "Will you come?" " Will a duck swim ? Of course I will." " That's settled then," said Jack. "We'll have some skating ; it will be rare fun. " " There's one thing you will have to look out for. Jack," replied Harvey, thoughtfully. " What's that ?" " You mustn't let Emily see you walking out with Miss Hilda Manasses." "What can I do? I must keep in with the old Jew, and I'll tell you why in confidence. I never have told you before, but I will now." In a few words Jack informed him how he had been robbed by Kemp, and that he owed the Jew a thousand pounds. "That's bad. I had no idea you were in such a fix," replied Harvey ; " and I never felt the want of money so much in my life before." "Why?" "Because if I had it I'd give it to you." The tears came to Jack's eyes as he grasped his friend by the hand. " I know you would let me have it," he said; "but we must try and do without it" Soon after he hastened down to the river, and took his place in the eigrht JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. \ 2 1 She went along at a rattling pace, with a good way on her, and the captain was well satisfied with his crew. The next day, while walking in the Christ-Church meadows, he met Hilda. She blushed at seeing him, and he politely offered her his arm. " No, thank you. I would rather walk alone," she answered. They walked up and down the broad walk side by side, talking about indifferent subjects. It was clear from the way in which the girl changed colour now and again, that there was more on her side than a feeling of friendship for him. But Jack never thought of love in connection with her. His heart was given to Emily. Perhaps if he had never seen Emily he might have loved Hilda. The Jewish maiden was, strictly speaking, more beauti- ful than Emily. " You so seldom come and see me now, Mr. Hark- away," she said, in a tone of gentle reproach. "I am in training," he replied. "That keeps me very quiet." "I should like to see you row at Putney. I have always heard it is a grand race." " Get your father to take you to town for a few days," suggested Jack. "Oh ! you don't know papa," she answered. " I don't think anything would induce him to leave Oxford. It is so long since I had a change I can scarcely remember it." All at once a cheery voice exclaimed "Hullo, Jack! are you so deeply engaged that you don't recognise old friends ? " Jack looked up, and saw Mr. Bedington and, to his consternation, Emily was hanging on his arm. She was deadly pale. Jack had been talking almost affectionately to Hilda, and Emily's surprise at seeing him with a hansome, well- dressed girl was unbounded. ' ' How do you do, father ? " he exclaimed in some confusion. "Why did you not say you were coming?" At the same time he held out his hand to Emily. "This is indeed a, pleasure," continued Jack. 122 JA CK HA RKA WA Y AT OXFORD. She did not seem to see his proffered hand, and returned his salutation very coldly. "We thought we would take you by surprise," ex- claimed Mr. Bedington. "Emily and I have come up about her situation. She will be a governess, you know, and so we looked you up. Your scout told me you had gone for a walk, so we ordered tea at five in your room, and came out to look for you." "Cool of you," said Jack, laughing. "But I will do all that a poor friendless bachelor can to make you comfortable." "You have not introduced me to your friend," con- tinued Mr. Bedington. "Oh! excuse me, will you ? Miss Hilda Manasses my father and Emily," replied Jack, still more confused. Hilda and Emily glanced at one another like two en- raged tigresses. Their woman's instinct told them that they both loved the same man. "I must go home now," exclaimed Hilda. "Papa will be expecting me." "Oh, don't go," said Jack. "Pray don't let me drive you away," cried Mr. Bed- ington. "Thank you very much," returned Hilda. "I really must run away. Good-bye, Mr. Harkaway. May we expect you soon ? " She darted an unkind glance at Emily as she spoke. "Yes, I think so. I will try to spare an evening shortly, " answered Jack. "Don't make a favour of it, please," said Hilda. "I can't bear being patronised." "I didn't mean it in that way." "Never mind; I'll forgive you this once. You uni- versity men read so much and see so little society, poor fellows, that you have an awkward way of expressing yourselves, isn't that it ? " "Very possibly," answered Jack. Hilda nodded, and tripped quickly away under the trees, Jack lifting his mortar-board as she did so. "Pretty girl that," said Mr. Bedington, "though her name has an Israelitish sound. " ' ' She is a Jewess, " replied Jack. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 1 23 "I thought so. Let us hope you have not been curry- ing favour with the daughter in order to borrow money from the Jew ? " Mr. Bedington looked Jack through and through with his clear, bright eyes. Jack's gaze fell before this searching stare. "Oh, no," he replied. "Thanks to your liberality, sir, I am in no want of money. " It was the first falsehood that he had ever told Mr. Bed- ington, and the hot, tell-tale blood mantled his face, and made it burn, so that he turned away. "Come," continued Mr. Bedington, "our time is short. We return to-night Show us some of the lions of Ox- ford." Jack led the way to the river, and Emily walked silently by his side, thinking of the beauty of Hilda, the Jew's daughter. CHAPTER XIX. KEMP'S NEW PLOT. WHEN Jack had shown Emily and Mr. Bedington as much as he could in a short time, they found themselves near the Radcliffe Library on their way to his rooms. "You should see the library by moonlight," he ex- claimed ; " that's the time." He addressed the remark to Emily, who took no notice of him. It was a relief when they went into St. Aldate's. Monday and Buster had made up their differences for a time, and began to bow and scrape as the little party entered. "How um do, Missey Em'ly?" exclaimed Monday. " No find tarn Pisangs here." "Thank goodness, no, Monday," replied Emily, smil- ing for the first time. She shook him by the hand, to the intense disgust of Buster, who afterwards told Clinker in confidence that he couldn't imagine how a lady could speak civilly to a black thief like that. 124 /ACK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. After tea Harvey and Tom Garden dropped in. This was a great relief to Jack, for Carden and Mr. Bedington began to talk upon boating matters, in which conversation Harvey joined, thus giving him an oppor- tunity of speaking privately to Emily. She sat down near a window, and was looking out in a dreamy sort of manner at the quad. "Emily, dearest," said Jack. " Well ? " she answered shortly. " You are angry with me." " Have I not cause to be? " she replied. "You will break my heart, if you do not listen to me." "What have you to say ?" Emily exclaimed, turning her sad blue eyes upon him. "You are jealous of Hilda." "Who is Hilda?" "Miss Manasses. I mean the girl you met me with," replied Jack, struggling boldly with the difficulty. "Since we are engaged," she answered, "you cannot wonder at my feeling hurt. " "But there is nothing in it." "I don't know anything about it. All I do know is that you thought me miles away in France,' and during my absence you go walking about with a big, tall creature, who I am sure is not the least bit pretty, but only overgrown and horridly fast." "I met her by accident will you believe me ? " "Of course I will, but you must have met before, or else you are a bad, bold man to speak to a girl you don't know, and she is something worse to answer you." " Her father does bills." " What may that be ? " "Why, he gives you money on your note of hand, and I wanted a little accommodation, that's all," said Jack. "That is no reason why you should be civil to his daughter, is it ? " "Well, no, not exactly," said Jack, stupidly. "Promise me, Jack, that you will never never speak to her again, and I'll forgive you," exclaimed Emily, brightening up. "With pleasure. The girl is nothing to me, and I had no more idea than a baby that I should meet her to-day." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 125 " There now, Emmy dear, we are friends, are we not ? " he added. "Yes," she replied. "You never deceived me yet, Jack, darling, and I will not believe that the atmosphere of Oxford has so far corrupted you as to make you base." " It never shall. I only love you in the world." "And I do 1 not love you?" she asked. "I'd lay my life on it, Emmy, dear," he answered. " Don't fret any more, there's a pet." Jack and Emily got quite friendly again, and he was sorry when they had to go. Mr. Bedington slipped a ten-pound note into his hand and told him to make the best use of his time, and then Jack saw them off at the station. He returned to his rooms rather thoughtful, thinking one moment of Emily, the next of Hilda, and after that of the old Jew, wondering what he would do about the bill. As he was crossing the quad, a tall, handsome man, rather poorly though neatly dressed, stopped him. " Mr. Harkaway, I think ? " he said. "Yes," replied Jack. "My name is Franklin," continued the stranger. " Are you a St. Aldate's man? I think I know your face, but I am not sure." "I am one of the servitors of the college," replied Franklin. "Perhaps you do not know what that is," he added, with a sad smile. " Not exactly," answered Jack. "I can soon explain. My father is poor, and unable to allow me more than eighty pounds a year, so I could not come up to college as you did. I was obliged to enter as a servitor, which cuts down the fees." " Oh, I know," replied Jack, " you mark the names in chapel and do things in hall. Well, my dear fellow, you are none the worse for that." "I hope not. It is not money that makes the gentle- man," replied Franklin, proudly; "but I want to speak to you privately, if you will not think me intrusive." "Not in the least. Come to my rooms, will you? " Franklin followed him to his rooms, and Jack, giving him an arm-chair, stirred the fire, brought out whisky, and made some grog. "Now you arc at home, I hope," he said. I2 6 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. "Thank you, I am going to light my pipe, and then the mind of man can desire no more. Are you aware you have two enemies in this college ? " "I know it very well. You mean Kemp and Davis," replied Jack. "Those are the two men." " What are they doing now ? Anything new ? " "The fact is," said Franklin, "I have picked up an anonymous letter which fell out of Mr. Kemp's pocket at hall." "Is it in Kemp's writing? " "I fancy so, though it is disguised. My first impulse was to give it him back again, but as I approached for that purpose I heard Kemp say to Davis, ' I have written the letter, and you may depend upon it, that Harkaway shall not row in the eight at Putney.' " " How can they stop me ? " asked Jack. "That is a mystery at present," replied Franklin. "Well, hearing this remark, I resolved to. read the letter. There is nothing dishonourable in that I hope." "I don't think so. You had your suspicions, you see. " "That's the way I argued." "What is the letter about? " "It is written by a sincere friend to Moses Manasses, the Jew money-lender, telling him that you are engaged to be married to a Miss Emily Scratchley, who has been to see you to-day." " That's true enough." " And it goes on to say that you are only making a fool of Miss Hilda Manasses, for the basest purpose of which a man of honour can be accused." "The villains ! " exclaimed Jack. " I have never said a word to Hilda that could lead her to think I was fond of her. " "You know best of course. If I might presume to give you advice." "Pray do." "You won't think it impertinent on the part of a mere stranger. " "Not at all. I shall esteem it a favour, my dear fellow," said Jack. "Then I should recommend you to cut the girl's ac- JA CK HARKAWAY AT OXFORD. 1 2 7 quaintance altogether. If you don't care for her, you may make her care for you." " I never thought of that," said Jack ; " though really I am not to blame in this matter. I owe the Jew money, and so I kept in with him and his daughter, because I thought he would be more likely to hold over, if I were civil to them.'"' "Ah ! " said Franklin, with a grave shake of the head, "it is an awful thing for a young man to owe money. Poor as I am, and wanting money to buy books even, I don't think I would accept any tin, if a fellow was to offer to lend it me without interest." "Wouldn't you really ? " said Jack. "No ; I have seen so many fellows, since I have been up here, ruined by getting into the fast set, which means getting into debt." "It wasn't my fault altogether. It was a gambling debt, contracted with this very man, Kemp, and I didn't know what I was about at the time." " Kemp and men like him are a disgrace to the univer- sity," said Franklin, indignantly. "Just give me the letter to look at, will you?" said Jack. It was handed to him, and he read it attentively. "The object of this is to make Manasses angry, and induce him to come down upon me for the bill," he said. "Can you pay the money?" " Impossible." "Would your failure to do so interfere with your chance of rowing in the Oxford eight at Putney ? " asked Franklin. "I really don't know. How does the law stand?" replied Jack. ' ' I think I can tell you, for I have been coaching up law for a legal exam, lately." " There is no imprisonment for debt," said Jack. "I beg your pardon, there is. Has the Jew got a judgment against you ? " " He has served me with a writ." "Then he has his judgment if you did not defend the action. Well, I will tell you what he will do, if he is inclined to be nasty." "What?" asked Jack, much interested. ! 2 8 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. " He will summon you before a judge in chambers, to show cause why you should not pay the money, or, in default, be committed to prison for six weeks." "Can he do that?" "Undoubtedly. You or your friends are in a position to pay, therefore the result of such an application would be your committal." "That's pleasant," said Jack. " If you were put in prison, it would spoil your train- ing ; and perhaps prevent you from rowing at all, if you were arrested and locked up just before the race." " Do you think that is Kemp's plot ? " asked Jack. " He said you should not row, and he's trying to enrage the Jew against you. That's how the case stands." " Thank you very much for your kindness in telling me all this," said Jack. "I wish you well out of it," said Franklin ; "and now I must go and do some ancient history. I am a poor man, Mr. Harkaway, and have to work when you swells are asleep or at wine-parties." "I've cut the wines and the suppers, now I am in training," said Jack; "in fact, I hate them. There is something awfully unreal about all that dissipation." "You've got the remedy in your own hands, "remarked Franklin. "How?" " You needn't go to them, you know," replied Franklin with a smile, rising as he spoke. " Sorry you must go. Some night I shall think it such a privilege, Mr. Franklin, if I might coie to your rooms and read a little with you. I am doing the ' Knights of Aristophanes,' now, and I am not quite clear about cer- tain passages." "You will find me a queer, solitary sort of friend, I am afraid. I have had so many snubs since I have been up here, that I keep myself very much to myself, and it was a hard struggle with me to stop you to-night in the quad." " But may I come ? " asked Jack, rather anxiously. " If you will take your chance of finding me in a good temper, and put up with my ways. My den is poor, you might call it poverty-stricken ; I don't want to shock your fine idea of what rooms ought to be," said Franklin, JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 1 2 9 looking round curiously at Jack's sumptuously-furnished apartments. "I shall come, and take my chance of being turned out," said Jack, smiling. Franklin smiled too, and wished him good-night. Jack saw him to the door, and sat down, feeling very miserable. Dark clouds were blowing up once more, and he fell satisfied that there was danger ahead. What shape the peril would lake he could scarcely tell, but he was uneasy and nervous. CHAPTER XX. JACK IS ASKED HIS INTENTIONS. NOT feeling in a sleepy humour, Jack determined to go up to Sir Sydney Dawson's rooms. Sir Sydney generally had company. He had been away for a week, and only returned that afternoon. As he expected, Jack found him in, with three or four friends. " How do ? " said Jack. " Got back, I see." "That is a self-evident proposition, "replied Sir Sydney. " I have had a week in the little village they call London." "It don't seem to have done you any good, You're awfully fishy about the eyes." "When a man hasn't had any decent sleep for six or seven days, and been knocking about at theatres and other cribs, a piscatorial look about the optics is the natural result Thanks for your visit all the same, you old croaker." " I wasn't sure you would be in, as you didn't tuin up in hall." "I'd no appetite for roast or boiled," replied Dawson, "so I went over to the 'Mitre,' and got a broil." "Good thing, too, when there's enough of it." "Now you are here, you will have to pay the penalty." "What's that? " asked Jack. I 3 o JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. " We were just thinking about brewing a bowl of bishop, and having a hand at Van John. You'll play Van." "I can't stop late. I'm in training." "Hang training ! " replied Dawson. " It would do you a world of good, old man, if you were to pull in the boat,'' said Jack. "Not if I know it, Harkaway, my innocent. Catch me living on a quart of beer a day and pulling my twenty miles, coming back sore and strained and awfully baked. That's not this child's form by a long way. " "You're a sybarite." "Who's he?" " Get your classical dictionary and turn to the S's, you ignorant and likewise lazy beggar." ' ' How's Billingsgate ? " cried Sir Sydney. ' ' Where do you expect to die when you go to ? I mean put it t'other way, and then you'll know what I do mean. It's too much trouble to explain." Jack laughed. "Don't stand there grinning," continued Sir Sydney. "You remind me of nothing so much as a donkey struck by lightning. Get the cards out. " Jack looked round and saw that among Dawson's guests was the Duke of Woodstock. " How do? " he exclaimed, as he passed him to get the card-box from a side table. "Quite well aw thanks," replied the duke. "Been widing aw any maw steeple-chases, Mr. Harkaway?" " Not lately," replied Jack. "It's not exactly my line. I'm more at home on the water." "Aw wataw don't know much about wataw, except in conjunction with something else aw say alcohol." " Good word that," remarked Dawson. "Yaas; flattaw myself alcohol is aw a big word," replied the duke. " Tell you what," said Jack, "I should like to handi- cap you and Woodstock for a mile race. I don't think either of you would run the distance under an hour." "Hark at the muscular Christian," said Sir Sydney. "We, my dear boy, do not think athletics the highest point worthy of a man's ambition." " No, " replied Jack, "drinking, smoking, or something worse is your form. " JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 1 3 1 "I say," cried Sir Sydney, "where are you getting to ? We shall have to sit on you and let off some of that steam." The cards were produced, and Jack limited himself to one hour. He won a few pounds and got up. " Look at the rat," said Sir Sydney ; "he's made a couple of boxes of weeds out of us, and now he's going to slope." " Mean beggar," remarked the duke. "I told you I should only play one hour," replied Jack. "Be off with the swag. Take your booty. What is filthy lucre to us? Vanish into the night," replied Sir Sydney. Jack strode off and was soon in bed, but it was daylight before the roysterers sought the sheets, with bleared eyes and confused ideas of things in general. Christmas approached, and the vacation commenced. Jack went home without hearing anything from Moses Manasses. He did not call upon the Jew, on the principle that it was best to let a sleeping dog lie still. His first term at Oxford had, on the whole, been very pleasant. The winter was a mild one. There was no skating, and he spent his time in driving or walking with Emily or in shooting with Harvey and his father. When term commenced again he went back to Oxford, more than ever in love with Emily, who was no longer jealous of Hilda. Emily had heard all about the bill transaction from him, and promised to say nothing about it, though she advised him to tell Mr. Bedington. This he would not listen to. He thought he should get out of the scrape somehow, and the amount was so large that he was afraid of making a clean breast of it. As the weather was so mild, boating went on without interruption. Jack's magnificent rowing obtained him great praise from everybody. 132 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. It was said that there was not a finer oar in the 'varsity eight than he. - The Cambridge crew, from all reports, was an un- usually good one. Therefore, it was more than ever necessary that Oxford should put her best men in the boat. Jack had not been up more than a fortnight, when he one day received a visit from Mr. Moses Manasses. He was a little embarrassed when he saw the Jew, but, putting a good face on it, he begged him to be seated, and said he was glad to see him. "You have not called on us lately, Mr. Harkaway," said the Jew. "Well, no, " replied Jack. "You see, I have been so busy. " "I presume your intentions to my daughter are the same ? S'help me, Mr. Harkaway, the girl is very fond of you," continued Moses. " I'm sorry for that," Jack answered, boldly, "because I am engaged already." " Ha ! " said the Jew. "To whom ? " "An orphan, without any money; there is disinter- estedness for you." " But Hilda will be rich. I can give her fifty a hun- dred two hundred thousand pounds," cried the Jew. Jack thought money-lending at Oxford must be a profit- able business. "He'll be a lucky man who gets her," he observed. "Why should you not be the one ? " "Simply because I'm bottled up already." "And you tell me, sir, that you never meant to marry my daughter?" screamed the Jew. " Never." "Why did you turn over her music while she sang to you ? why walk out with her ? why come to my house ? " " I did not mean any harm." "You call yourself a shentleman? " exclaimed the Jew, growing more and more excited. " Why, I could make a better shentlemans out of a turnip. You are no shentle- man ; you are a villain, Mr. Harkaway ! " Jack coloured up. " I tell you so to your face. Why should you try to JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. \ 53 dishonour me and break a poor girl's heart ? Answer me that," continued the Jew. " I don't think I deserve this language, Mr. Manasses," exclaimed Jack. "Yes, you do. Have you not behaved like a paltry humbug ? after my kindness too ! Why should a Chris- tian bring dishonour on a Jew ? Is not the Jewish maiden fair and virtuous ? Did she " " I cannot allow you to talk to me like this," exclaimed jack, getting angry, and walking about the rooms with his hands in his pockets. " Have I said too much ? " "A deuced sight too much ; more than I mean to stand anyhow, and I will thank you to leave my rooms, and not come into them again until you know how to behave yourself." " Will you give me my monish ! " asked Manasses. "You know very well I can't because I haven't got it" "The law will give it me, or punish you," said Ma- " Go to law then ; I don't care," replied Jack, desper- ately. "Only get out of my sight, that's all." " But my girl what shall 1 say to Hilda ? " " How can I tell you what to say? I have never led her to believe that I loved her." ' ' Did you not give her this present, and this, and this ? " asked Manasses, drawing from his capacious pocket a bracelet, a ring, and an ivory-handled fan. ' ' Yes ; I admit I made her presents thoughtlessly. You were very kind to me." " Is that all you have to say ? " "That is all," answered Jack. ' ' Father Abraham ! " exclaimed the Jew, holding up his hands. " I lend my money; I do not press him; he creeps into my house like a viper, and he stings me through my daughter." "Tell Miss Manasses that I am very sorry she should have run away with any mistaken ideas about my inten- tions. I always regarded her as a mend. That is all. " ' All ! " repeated the Jew. " Holy Moses ! this is the honour of an Oxford shentleman ! " "Look here," said Jack, "you're extremely insulting 134 J A CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. and troublesome. Get out of my place. I tell you I have done nothing wrong ; be off." "I could ruin him," said the Jew, as if talking to him- self. "I can't help that." "I could make him a brankrupt, or put him in prison, and his friends would send him abroad. His future is in my hands." "I'll pay you some day, you old vampiring vulture," cried Jack, whose patience was nearly exhausted. " Ah ! he might have my cherished one, my ewe lamb, the flower of the flock, and be rich and respected, and get into parliament, and have his castle and yacht, and live like a real shentleman. Ah I if he would arise like Barak, that son of Abinoam ! " "I say, cut it," replied Jack, who was getting tired of it. "I'm very sorry for the young lady, but it isn't my fault." The Jew rose, and walked shakily, with the aid ot his stick, to the door. "I'll have my monies," he muttered. " It is my right. The law will give me my gold." Jack was very miserable, and came to the conclusion he was in a mess it would be difficult to get out of. Once he was very nearly writing to his father, and confessing everything, but he clung to a hope that he might extricate himself. While he was sitting perplexed and worried, Sir Sydney Dawson and the Duke of Woodstock came in. "Ah ! my noble swells," he exclaimed, trying to be cheerful. " What does this visit portend ? " "Give us to drink, and we will unfold the plan of our conspiracy," replied Sir Sidney, striking a theatrical atti- tude. Jack touched a hand-bell to summon Monday, who was generally in waiting in another room. " What ho ! within there, slave ! " cried Sir Sydney. Monday made his appearance, grinning. "Bring out the glorious vintage of champagne, and forget not the glasses." Presently two bottles of Moet's No. i were placed on the table, the corks popped, and the wine bubbled up in the tumblers. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 135 'Das ist gut as my friend Bismarck would observe," said Sir Sydney Dawson, emptying his glass. "Perhaps you will be good enough to translate your German," replied Jack. "Das this; ist is; gut good. Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. We have got a bet on, Harkaway, and you must be the umpire." "What is it?" " Let Woodstock tell you ; he started the idea." " Now, my lord duke, I'm all attention," said Jack. "Fact is aw I had an ideaw," replied the duke. "That is an event of such very rare occurrence, that his grace will be obliged if you will make a note of it, Hark- away," exclaimed Sir Sydney, laughing. "Don't intawupt me," said Woodstock. "Fact is, Mr. Harkaway, we saw two organs playing in the High. Two of those aw infernal bawal organ things." "Yes." "Waal, we sent a scout for them, and they are at pwesent gorging themselves in my woom aw." " What, the organs ? " said Jack. "No, the men ; what I mean is, the pwopwietors, and we have aw hired the organs. " "What for?" "Aw that is the ideaw. Yaas, I flattaw myself the ideaw is to land the organs." "But what are you going to do with them? "asked Jack. " It's a bet, you know. Dawson is to take one organ aw and I am to have the othaw. Twig ? " "Not quite." "Aw some people vewy dense, but I will explain. Dawson is to start playing aw from the Martyr's Me- morial, and I start from the High Stweet. See? " "No. I'm rather in a fog still." " Deaw me," exclaimed his grace. "It's as cleaw as a glass of bittaw beaw." "I'll tell you all about it," cried Dawson. "I've bet that I will play in the Corn Market for an hour on one organ, and Woodstock is going to play on the other, and I back myself to get more halfpence than he does." "Yaas, that's the bet, who gets the most coppaws," drawled the duke." X 3 6 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. " What a lark," said Jack. ' ' I should like to be in that." "Are you in the humour for a spree ? " asked Sir Sydney. "Rather; I'm game for anything to-day from pitch- and-toss to manslaughter. I've been most awfully upset. " "Look here," exclaimed Sir Sydney, seeing Jack's monkey on the back of a chair. "Take the bishop on your arm, dress him in an old cap and gown, and put a placard on his nut, saying he is the illegitimate son of the Dean of St. Aldate's, and being in distress, would gladly receive the contributions of the charitable." "That would be going too far, wouldn't it? Suppose I say he is the only son of the Emperor of Peru ? " Dawson took a pen and a piece of paper, on which he wrote "Out of work. I am the nearest relation of the Dean of St. Aldate's. Any trifle will be thankfully received and acknowledged in the newspapers. The highest testimonials from Mr. Darwin and others can be seen at Ujiji. This is a case highly recommended by Dr. Living- stone. Out of work. Bestow a trifle on a poor monkey, who, after all, is a man and a brother. Owing to the strikes and the high price of coal, I am starving. Please part a penny, kind Christian friends." "There ! " he exclaimed, reading the effusion ; " and if that don't draw the coin, I'm mistaken." "What's your bet ? " asked Jack. "A fiver." "Well, I'll bet a fiver that I, with the monkey, take more than either of you in the Corn Market in one hour." " Done," cried Sir Sydney and the duke in a breath. "As for me aw," said the duke, "it will be some coppaws or a policeman in no time, for I mean to aw sing ' Annie Laurie ' to the aw inspiriting tunes of my organ." " Mine's a regular ear-cracker," exclaimed Sir Sydney. "I'm safe to cop largely." " How about the togs ?" asked Jack. "Oh, Buster has gone to get some old clothes and caps of his. " " I see. That will do. Suppose I take Monday with me, half-naked and barefoot, and say he's the King of the Cannibal Islands." "No, that won't be fair," replied Sir Sydney; "the JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 137 black would be sure to draw. You've got the monk', that's enough. " " Naw," said the duke gravely, " niggaws aren't fair. Don't mind monkeys, but must draw the line at aw niggaws." Taking the monkey in his arms, Jack put an old cap on him, and a gown which he cut short. Then the three men, flushed with wine, went to Daw- son's rooms, where Buster was waiting with the old clothes. "Haven't those fellows done eating ?" asked Sir Syd- ney, pointing to the Italians. ' ' No, sir, " replied Buster ; ' ' they've been at it this hour, and they ain't done yet. I should back the little one, sir." "To eat the most?" "Yes, sir; he's only a chicken and two cutlets behind the tall one, and he's coming up fast." " Let them alone and help us to put on the duds," said Sir Sydney. They were quickly attired in dilapidated garments, which effectually disguised them. " Are you ready ? " asked Jack. "Yaas," replied the duke. "Heaw, give me aw a crooked pin to hold up my ragged breeches." " How do I look ? " said Sir Sydney, surveying himself in the glass. " Whitechapel all over, sir," answered Buster, with a grin. " And I ?" asked the duke. " Reg'lar chickaleary cove, your grace." "Where are the instruments of torture? " "Organs, sir? " . ' "Yes!" "Mr, Clinker's minding them outside the gate, sir." "Come on, all of you. Mind the monkey, Harkaway. It's now four by my watch ; at five sharp we meet here again," said Dawson. "In your rooms? " "Yes, here." "All right. Cut along," exclaimed Jack. The three young men stole through the quad, looking like beggars, and reached the street without attracting special notice, as the porter was in the secret. 138 JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFOK D. "If they don't get locked up, it's a mussy," muttered Buster. "They're on for a spree this time, and I know how sprees husually hend." His eye fell upon the Italians. CHAPTER XXI. MR. MOLE MAKES A STRANGE PURCHASE. THE Italians were still silently eating and having polished off the poultry and such like trifles, they were beginning to attack a sirloin of beef. "Lor'," observed Buster, " it's a caution to see them men eat. Perfect gorgers, hi call them, and no flies. I hope they won't bust up or have a fit." Sir Sydney wiped his face with the sleeve of his coat, which was not too clean, and the others followed his ex- ample, to make their faces dirty. Then he slung the organ over his back by the strap, the Duke of Woodstock doing the same. " Wish you luck, gentlemen," said Clinker, with a broad grin. "Be here in an hour to take the organs." " Take the orgins? Yes, sir," replied the scout. "They started up St. Aldate's Street for the High, Jack following with the grotesquely-dressed monkey, who had the placard pinned on his academical cap. "Oh, my!" said the scout to himself, "they'll wake 'em up before they've done, or I'll eat my hat, and my hat ain't a rump-steak by no manner of means." It was not long before the strains of the rival organs were heard in different directions. Sir Sydney Dawson enlivened the neighbourhood of St. John's, while the Duke of Woodstock made melody near St. Mary's Church. As for Jack, he went with his monkey on his arm in front of the "Clarendon Hotel," and, standing still, waited for the crowd to assemble. This the Oxonians were not long in doing, for the aca- demic costume of the ape was enough to provoke mirth in the most melancholy. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. \ 39 Holding out his hand, Jack said, in a whining voice "Give, please ; give to povro Italiano, signer. Please one penny give." In a short time he collected nearly two shillings, and began to think he was doing a roaring trade. " I shall lick those other fellows into fits," he muttered. "This monkey dodge isn't half a bad game. I shall know what to do if I ever get hard up." Some gentlemen had been dining at the hotel, and look- ing out of the window, they threw some coppers to the monkey, who picked them up and gave them to his master. To Jack's astonishment, the gentlemen were friends of his. One was Mr. Mole, the other Tom Garden, and the third Harvey. The two latter had been reading at Mr. Mole's house, and had been invited by the tutor to have a little dinner at the "Clarendon." "Dear me," said Mr. Mole, who had been drinking some very fine old '47 port, " that monkey bears a most striking resemblance to an ape belonging to Harkaway." " Own brother to the Bishop, I'll swear," said Garden. " Do you think," said Mr Mole, " that the Italian boy will bring him in here ? We will see what tricks he can do." "Let's put him through his paces. Shall I call his keeper, sir ? " asked Harvey. "Do," replied Mr. Mole. "If he is a clever monkey, I will buy him. " " Here, you fellow!" exclaimed Harvey, "come in here. Waiter, bring that man in here ; we want to see his animal perform. " "Yes, sir," replied the waiter. "You fellah, come in ; you're wanted," said the waiter. Sir Sydney Dawson came up with his organ at that moment, and began to play "Champagne Charlie." "By Jove 1" exclaimed Harvey, "there is another foreign cove. The place swarms with them to-day. " Jack gave Sir Sydney a wink, and followed the waiter into the coffee-room. He was so well disguised that no one recognized him or took him for anything else than he pretended to be. "Can you talk English ? " asked Mr. Mole. 1 40 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD, "Si, signer," replied Jack. "That isn't English. Say something one can under- stand." "You give glass of champagne to poor Savoyard," The gentlemen laughed. "That's straight enough," remarked Garden, who poured out the wine and handed it to Jack. ' ' So you come from Savoy ? " continued Mr. Mole. " Where does your monkey hail from ? " "He come from the Malay Archipelago. He a Pisang monkey," said Jack, boldly. "Well, that's very odd. I've been in those latitudes," replied Mr. Mole. "Perhaps you will tell me that your ape speaks English next." " He very good talking monkey, signer. He speaks one, t\vo, three language." "The duece he does ! What are they ? " "English, one; Dutch, two; Chinese, three," replied Jack, counting his fingers. " He's a very intelligent monkey if that's true, "remarked Mole, thinking he was being made fun of. ' ' Do you mean to say he can talk ? " asked Tom Garden. "Yes, signer." "That be hanged for a yarn," answered Tom. "Gently, Garden," replied Mr. Mole. "This is ex- tremely interesting. Perhaps the creature is the missing link between the man and the monkey, of which natu- ralists and scientific people have so long been talking. Is it possible? " " It's possible everything is possible, but not likely," answered Tom. "If this fellow is imposing upon us, we will give him in charge of the police. Now, look here, my lad, ask the creature if he ever saw me in Pisang." Jack whispered to the monkey, who chattered to him in return. ' ' Si, signer, he knows you very well, " replied Jack. " What does he say ? " " You speak to him, signer ; he soon answer you." "Put him on the table," replied Mr. Mole with a smile. "We will have none of your tricks." Jack placed the ape on the table, and gave him orders in a sharp tone to sit still. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 1 4 1 Then he retired to the doorway, which was some (i'stance off. The waiters kept their eyes upon Jack, and on the spoons at the same time. "Now, sir, attention," exclaimed Mr. Mole, addressing the monkey. "What has become of the lost tribes of Israel ? " In a somewhat cracked but distinct voice the monkey appeared to say "Gone up the Baltic in a penny boat." Mr. Mole started and turned pale. Tom Garden rubbed his eyes, and the waiters regarded one another with astonishment. Only Harvey did not appear lost in amazement. He sidled up to the poor Italian boy, and whispered "Jack." "Shut up, Dick," returned Jack, in the same low tone, "oryou'll spoil the barney." Harvey sidled away again, and Mr. Mole having re- covered from his surprise, looked carefully at the monkey. " Ahem !" he said, clearing his throat, "you seem to have hazy notions of history. Perhaps, sir, we shall find you more at home in, say geography. In what part of the world do you find the greatest cold ? " "In a penny ice shop up the Commercial Road," an- swered the monkey. "You are badly educated, "exclaimed Mr. Mole. "Now tell me, if you please, where you saw me last in Pisang?" "Saw you last in Limbi." "Indeed; under what circumstances, may' I ask?" said Mole, adjusting his spectacles. " You had two wives in Limbi, Ambonia and Alfura. Ambonia beat you with a flat-iron, and then threw the baby into the fire, and sat on it." Mr. Mole shivered from head to foot, and said invol- untarily " No. It was a bamboo with which she attacked me. I remember it well, and the babies were not then born. There is a strange mixture of truth and falsehood in this, but it is very remarkable." Tom Garden was equally puzzled. He had never heard a monkey speak before, and he agreed that it was most extraordinary. I 4 2 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. " I think we ought to admit him to the university, and give him the benefit of an open scholarship," he said. " Don't the brute look comical in his cap and gown ? " exclaimed Harvey, laughing. He wanted an excuse to get rid of some of the suppressed merriment with which he was bursting. ' ' I'm not half such a brute as you are, " retorted the mon- key ; " and if you say much more to me, Dick Harvey, I'll have you out and put you in the horse-trough." Harvey had to stuff his pocket-handkerchief into his mouth to stop his laughter. " Dear me," replied Mr. Mole, " what a savage, un- educated beast it is." " Tell you what, Isaac Mole," cried the monkey, loudly, " I didn't marry two wives and desert them in a foreign land, each with a young baby." " He seems to know all about you, sir," exclaimed Garden, grinning. " It's a. lying, rascally, beastly thing, and I've a good mind to hit it," replied Mole, furiously. " Yes, you do," said the monkey, " and I'll give you something hot, just to remind you of old times." Mr. Mole made a threatening gesture at the ape, who, seizing a roll of bread, jumped to the mantelpiece, and sprang up to the top of the chimney-glass, where he sat glaring at Mole. With some dexterity he threw the roll at his enemy, and knocked out a favourite false tooth, much to Mole's disgust " Dear me. Bless that monkey," he stuttered, " he has done me an injury." " Wait till your precious babes come over from Limbi," replied the monkey. " My babes?" repeated Mr. Mole. " Yes, yours. They're on the way. Won't you go on the booze for a month ?" Everybody laughed at Mr. Mole, who grew more and more angry. " Talk about something else," he said, dissembling his rage, " and I will give you a half-crown. Now tell me, why is the world made round ? " " Because lazy beggars like you shouldn't sleep in the corners," answered the monkey. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 1 43 Harvey roared at this reply, and said ' ' That is as good a sell as I have heard for a long time. " " The creature's no fool," observed Tom Garden. " You're nothing wonderful," replied the monkey. " All you're good' for is rowing hard in a boat. It's a pity you weren't born a day-labourer instead of a gentle- man." ' ' Sorry I spoke. What have I done to offend him ? " said Garden. " He's giving it us all round," replied Harvey. " Come here, my boy," said Mr. Mole to Jack, who approached. " Yes, aignor," he said ; " are you satisfied? " " Quite so. Will you sell your monkey ? " " Me sell for ten pound, English money, and then me go back to my contree ; to the beautiful hills and valleys of my beautiful Savoy. Ah ! I do love my con- tree. Savoy is my native contree. Yaas, I do love it so." He turned his eyes up, and put his hands together in an affecting manner. " Poor boy ; he's homesick," said Mr. Mole. " Give poor Savoyard money." " Catch the monkey first. Put a rope or a chain round him first." Jack called the monkey, and put a piece of string round its neck, which he placed in Mr. Mole's hand. " There, signer; now he your property, and I go back to Savoy," said Jack. Mr. Mole counted out ten sovereigns, and with a low bow Jack departed as quickly as he could. " Now," said Mr. Mole, regarding his newly-acquired treasure with delight, " I will repair to my house and give a grand party, to which I will invite all the heads of houses and the distinguished men in the university to see my talking monkey." " You will be the envy of Europe, sir,'' said Harvey. " Yes," remarked Garden, " and of Asia, Africa, and America, too." " He'll tell you all about your wives, sir, and the blessed babies," said Harvey. " The less said about them the better," replied Mr. Mole, adding 144 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. " What say you, my hairy friend ? " To his surprise, the monkey made no answer. " He's sulky. I've offended him," remarked Mr. Mole. " Help me home with him, Harvey, will you?" " Excuse me ; I must get back to college. Garden will go," replied Harvey. "Oh, with pleasure," answered Garden. "Just foot up the bill, and we'll start." Mr. Mole paid the bill, and left the hotel, carrying the monkey on his arm. " Ah ! " said he to Garden, " this is in indeed a happy day for me. What a priceless treasure have I not acquired. " He continued to talk in the most rapturous style until he reached his house, into which he carried the monkey as tenderly as if it had been an infant. CHAPTER XXII. MUSIC IN THE CORN MARKET. WHEN Jack quitted the hotel, he saw the Duke of Woodstock grinding away at his organ a few doors lower down. An irate tobacconist, who did not like organs, was telling him to move on. A sympathising crowd, as is usual in such cases, took the part of the organ-man. ' ' Go away ! " said the tabacconist, whose name was Brown. The duke turned the handle faster. Coming on to the pavement, Brown said " I tell you I won't have it." " I'm deaf. You must speak out louder," answered the duke. " Take your hook ! " thundered the tradesman. " Come inside ? all right. What will you give me? " As he spoke the duke moved towards the shop. " You do play inside my shop, that's all, and I'll soon have a bobby ! " cried Brown. " What do you want? Is it 'Sally come up?' asked the duke. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 1 45 " I'll 'Sally ' you. Go back to your own country. Oh ! here's a policeman. Constable, take this man into custody. " The policeman laid his hand upon the duke's arm. " Come along of me," he said ; " you're charged." Jack had all this time been going round amongst the crowd, with his old cap in his hand, collecting coppers, which flowed in freely. The duke perceived this, and exclaimed " I say, that's not fair. Look at him collaring the half- pence ! He's got all the chips ! " " I thought you were a foreigner, "said Brown, triumph- antly. " Why, you know English as well as I do. He's an impostor ! Lock him up ! " The duke's affected manner was forgotten for the moment. " You may have the organ," he said. " But I'll be hanged if you're going to have me." The policeman held on with a grip of iron. Imitating the tobacconist's voice, Jack made hirn say " Let the man go. I like his music." " You said just now, ' lock him up,'" answered the constable, somewhat staggered. " I've changed my mind, and shan't charge him. Let him go," continued Jack. Releasing his hold, the policeman said, in a tone of disgust "It's my opinion you don't know your own mind." "This way!" whispered the duke to Harkaway. " Come along ; it's getting too hot ! " "But the organ? " "That will be all right. Cut on with me." Leaving the policeman with the organ, they ran quickly up the Corn Market. The tobacconist seized the policeman by the arm and shook him. "What did you let the fellow go for?" he vociferated. "Didn't you tell me to?" asked the astonished con- stable. "I never opened my mouth, and I tell you plainly, it's my opinion you're a humbug. I'll report you ! " said Brown, shaking his fist at him. "I'm a respectable tradesman, and not to be played with as if I was the Lord Mayor's fool" 10 1 46 /A CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. The crowd, which had taken the part of the organ- grinder from the first, began to hiss in a threatening manner. "You'd better go in, or I won't answer for the con- sequences," said the policeman. "I shan't. I've a right to be here," said Brown. " Smash his windows ! " exclaimed a voice in the mob. He had scarcely spoken before a shower of stones fell upon the glass, and it was not until a reinforcement of police came up that the crowd was dispersed. Jack and the Duke of Woodstock ran into the " Mitre/' forgetting how they were dressed. " A bottle of fiz. Quick ! " said the duke to the waiter. "We only serve gentlemen," replied the waiter, stiffly. "What do you call us, you insolent ruffian ! " crind t:ie duke. " I take you for a couple of cadgers or thieves, yn^ if you don't step it, I'll help you." The duke caught sight of himself in the glass, and burst out laughing. " You're right, Alfred," he said. " I forgot the toj gery, and you were not to know who we were." "If I've made a mistake," said the waiter, hesitaf ngly, "I'll " "It doesn't matter. We'll get back to college! only, when you see Mr. Harkaway and the Duke of Woo {stock again, don't be in too great a hurry to kick then out of the ' Mitre.' " As the two young men left the room, the waiter ;ubbed his eyes. "Is this a lark?" he muttered, "or is it som * artful dodge ? Blessed if I know. The gents here are always up to something, and yet there are suspicious tharac- ters about." When the duke reached St. Aldate'she found Sir Jydney had already returned, and Clinker the scout was landing his organ. " Where's the other, sir?" asked the scout. "Taken in charge. Go down to the police-sta< ion and get it ; pay the bobby who's got it what he asks. Come back and start the two Italian coves." In a short time they had changed their clotnes, and repaired to Dawson's rooms. JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 147 The duke once more became the effeminate and lisping dandy. Sir Sydney was also dressed, and amusing himself by counting a quantity of halfpence. "Three and sevenpence farthing," he said, as they en- tered. "That's not bad for one hour. Organ grinding must be a good trade. " "It was your pretty face that did it with the women and slavies," answered Jack. " What's your total?" continued Dawson. "Woodstock and I will divide, as I collected some of his coppers," returned Jack. " Look here ; four and five- pence halfpenny." " I've only got a aw a bob ; one solitary Robertus," said the duke. "Then Dawson wins the bet." "That's a moral," replied Dawson. "Where's your monkey, Jack ? " . " I've sold it." "Who to?" " Old Mole," replied Jack. "Never ! How did you work that?" "Oh, beautifully. I ventriloquise, you know, and I made the monkey talk. Mole was charmed. He gave me ten pounds for it, and thinks he has discovered the missing link." " That's grand ! What chaff we shall have with him," said Sir Sydney. " Not bad ideaw. Easy thing, though, to aw sell an old fool like aw Mole," remarked the duke. While they were talking, Harvey came in, and was offered some champagne cup, which Dawson had been brewing. " Don't you think this sort of thing very disgraceful?" he asked. "You're a nice fellow to talk," replied Jack. "What do you know about it ? " " I've heard it all from Buster. If this is the way you spend your time, and bring the university into disgrace, you'll cut a good figure when you go into the schools ! " "I've passed my little go," said the duke. "Awful boavv, little go ; don't aw know what I shall do when I go in for my greats." 1 48 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. ' ' Who won the bet ? " "Dawson, with lots of bronzes to spare," replied Jack. " I suppose you are going down to Mole presently, just to undeceive him ? " "That is my intention. Won't he grunt over it ? " said Jack. "Why, it will be chaff against him all his life." " He firmly believes the monkey can talk. You did it splendidly." " Of course I did, my innocent ; and I should have had you, too, if I hadn't winked." " I don't know that. I'm not easily caught." " Didn't you see a ghost once in Singapore, Dick?" asked Jack, with a quiet laugh. "I don't mean to say I'm always wide awake ; no one is. Come on down to Mole's. I want to see the end of it." "All right," replied Jack, and wishing the others good- bye, they strolled up St. Giles's, and stopped at Mr. Mole's house. CHAPTER XXIII. TRAINING AT PUTNEY. MR. MOLE was sitting at tea. A comfortable fire blazed on the hearth, the kettle smoked on the hob, and he had placed the monkey on a chair. " Would you like a cup of tea ? " he asked. The monkey made no reply, but stretched out his paw for a nut, some of which stood on the table, having been specially sent for. "Ah ! you would prefer nuts. It is a pity you will not answer me. Have I done anything to offend you ? " No reply again. "Come in, Harkaway, and you, Harvey," said Mr. Mole, as these two stood in the doorway. "I have some- thing to show you." ' ' What's that, sir, a whale ? " "No ; a monkey. A most remarkable animal indeed." " I thought it was something in the natural history line," exclaimed Jack. " This monkey can beat yours, Harkaway. It talks positively it can converse." JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 1 49 "That won't do, sir ; when I hear him I'll believe it, and not before," said Jack, with a shake of his head. "I appeal to Harvey," replied Mr. Mole. "He was with me when I made this truly wonderful purchase." "I heard some one speak, sir, that I admit," answered Harvey. " My servant has gone to invite Dear Liddel and Mr. VVhewell to take tea with me, for I am determined that everyone in the university shall hear of the prodigy." "Is that the beast ? " asked Jack, pointing to the Bishop. "Yes. Observe him closely." " Well, it's a funny thing ; but I have lost my monkey, and that one bears a striking resemblance to it." Mr. Mole changed colour. "Nonsense," he said, adding, "still, when I come to think of it, there is a likeness." "You've been imposed upon by some one, sir." " But it spoke ; I heard it." "Perhaps the seller was a ventriloquist," suggested Jack. Mr. Mole's lower jaw fell. He saw, or fancied he saw, the trick now, and remem- bering Jack's powers, conjectured that, in the language of the vulgar, he had been "sold." " Was it you ? " he exclaimed. " Did you dress up to play this trick upon me ? Answer me. I will not be trifled with. No one shall make me a laughing stock with impunity." " I confess I did," answered Jack. "I sold you the monkey. Who else could know all about Limbi and your two wives, sir ? " "Of course. Well, I can never forgive you. If I had not invited the heads of houses to see the creature, and likewise written a long letter to the local journal, which has ere this been dropped into the editor's box of the Oxford Times, I should not care so much." Jack could not help laughing at his distress, which was comical in the extreme. ' ' You shall not laugh at me, " cried Mr. Mole, half-cry- ing with vexation. " Get out of my sight." " Won't you give me a cup of tea first, sir ? " " No tea do you have in this house. Be off, and take your wretched monkey with you " 150 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. Jack called Soapy Sam, who at once jumped into his arms and lovingly rubbed his head against his master's cheek. " Stay ! " exclaimed Mr. Mole, " my ten pounds. Re- store to me my money.'' " Not a rap. I'm going to give a dinner, sir, with that, and if you holloa too loud, I shall tell the story to all the men I know in college." Mr. Mole groaned dismally. "Good-bye, sir. You ought to start a natural history class. Neither Darwin nor Owen would have a chance with you," laughed Jack. In a fit of desperation Mr. Mole threw the muffins at him, but missed and only spoilt a bran-new Brussels. " Better luck next time," said Jack. He and Harvey went back to college and found Tom Garden waiting for them. " Hullo, Garden. What's your little game ? " exclaimed Jack. "My diminutive amusement," replied Garden, "is to put the drag on." "Whom or what ? " "You, my pippin." "What for?" "I'll tell you. It strikes me that now you and Wood- stock and Dawson have got together again, you will go the pace too fast." " Well ? " ejaculated Jack. "You will be no good in the eight. We can't afford to lose our best oar." "Thank you for the compliment," replied Jack, laugh* ing. "What has aroused the ire of my gentle commo- dore ? " " I heard about your performance this afternoon, and if you go on like this, you will be gated. As it is, you didn't turn up in the boat, and we had to put a waterman in to fill up." ' ' Suppose I promise to be a good boy ? " "In that case, I will not say anything more." " Have a game at crib," replied Jack, "you surly old bear, and just allow me one pint of Oxford ale." "Not a drop. I expect you've had enough to-day," answered Garden. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 151 "Only a portion of one champagne cup." "That's bad. You can't train on champagne. Re- member, we go down to Putney in a month, and the honor of the 'varsity is at stake." " It's in no danger in your hands." "But it is in those of our youngsters, who are strong as lions, and simple as doves." "What's the latest from Cambridge? " asked Jack " Bells Life says they are a stunning good crew ; the best that have been seen on the Cam for ever so long. " "All the more credit in licking them. I like a ding- dong race from start to finish," exclaimed Jack. " So do I ; but we must not leave anything to chance, and all I can tell you is that if the coxswain of the O. U. B. C. is displeased with any man's form, he will put him out of the boat at the eleventh hour." "It's bad enough to work hard, but worse to be bul- lied," grumbled Jack. "Discipline and training will always pull a race off," replied Tom Garden. " Put that pipe down, sir." "What, not one pipe? " Jack groaned. "If you want to lose your wind, do it; if you don't, put it down." "Isn't he a tyrant, Dick?" said Jack, appealing to Harvey. "Awful ! I wouldn't stand it," replied Harvey. " He must do as he's told, and I will have him up at six to-morrow for a ten-mile spin in flannels," answered Garden, with an authoritative nod of the head. There was no escape from Garden's discipline, and Jack did not attempt to fight against it any longer. The time soon came for the rival crews to leave Oxford and Cambridge, and take up their residence at Putney. As usual, the Oxonians went to the "Fox and Hounds Hotel." The Cantabs to the "Star and Garter." It was generally thought that the crews were very equally matched. If anything, sporting prophets were rather inclined to favour Cambridge. But the knowing ones of the universities looked at Tom Garden's swinging strokes, and Harkaway's broad shoul- ders and bull-like strength. I 5 ? JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. "That man Harkaway," said a man, who had been once stroke of the Eton eight, " is like a machine." "Yes," answered his friend, who was captain of the Leander Club ; "I call him a machine. If he remains fit and well, it's a moral certainty for Oxford." So opinions were divided. Some thought it a " moral" for the Cantabs, others the same for the dwellers by the classic Isis. It wanted but a week to the great race, which drives all London and its suburbs wild with excitement. Jack had rowed up with the crew to Barnes, and leav- ing the boat at May's boat-house, crossed over the river to walk home across the little common at Barnes. They had done the distance in twenty minutes, three seconds, which was tolerably good Tom Garden and Jack walked side by side, as carefully muffled up in boating coats and flannels for the weather was chilly and damp as if they had been thoroughbred race-horses ; and thoroughbreds they were. Suddenly a man jumped up from behind a heap of furze bushes. He had a sunburnt, weather-beaten countenance, the expression of which was villanously evil But this was nothing. That which struck Jack and made him turn pale was the strange fact that he had only one arm. He thought of the dark night in the Iffley Road, when a cowardly assassin tried to stab him. He thought of the gallant way in which Fabian Hall pushed in front of him, and received the deadly knife in his side. He could see the poor fellow carried bleeding in*o a house, and, looking after that, he saw him, pale and emaciated, obliged to leave his college for a time to recruit his shattered health. Involuntarily he exclaimed " Hunston ! " To Jack's startled exclamation the one-armed man replied, " Yes, I am Hunston, and I recognise you as easily as you do me. You are Jack Harkaway." "There is nothing to be ashamed of in that," answered Jack, JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 153 "You mean to imply that there is something to be ashamed of in being Hunston ? " " If you like to interpret my remark in that way, you are welcome," replied jack, carelessly. "You always were insulting me," said Hunston, with a vindictive glance. " I haven't forgotten our schooldays, or our adventures abroad, nor yet that night in the Iffley Road." It was Hunston's turn to go white now. " What do you mean ? " he gasped. "Whatlsa'y." "I know nothing of the Iffley Road, nothing at all ; but I know this, I have come back from the Malays, which you little expected, my fine fellow," exclaimed Hunston. Tom Garden, thinking the conversation was becoming of a private nature and that he was not wanted, ap- proached. " I'll go on, Harkaway," he said. " Don't do anything of the sort," replied Jack. "But you have met an old friend." "Rather say an old enemy." "Still he is a stranger to me, and if you do not think fit to introduce me to the a the gentleman " "Say the scoundrel," exclaimed Jack, angrily. "Well, I don't want to interfere in a fellow's private affairs," urged Garden. " My dear fellow, I do not wish, in the present instance, to have anything private from you," replied Jack, de- cidedly. "This man and I have nothing in common. Whatever he has to say to me may be heard by you, or by the whole world." " Oh, if that's the case, I'll hang on," said Garden. He folded his arms and looked rather more insolently than curiously at Hunston. His gaze was returned in the same spirit 154 J A CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. CHAPTER XXIV. HUNSTON AT WORK. NEVER was Harkaway more surprised than when he saw Hunston on Barnes Common. It will be recollected that Hunston had always been his determined enemy. At school, at sea, on land. It was all the same. There was no conciliating Hunston, or making a decent member of society of him. It seemed as if the man was born, and bred, and edu- cated a scamp and a villain. Jack had hoped that he would never see him again. He had fancied that he perished when the British ship attacked and shelled the pirates' stronghold. The hope had proved to be fallacious. "I escaped, I tell you, from the pirates," continued Hunston. " It's a matter of indifference to me," answered Jack. "No, it is not you will not find it so. I was on the point of dying. They told me I should die." " Pity you didn't. You're no use to yourself or anyone else. " " When I thought of you, and all the debt of vengeance I owed you, it gave me new life," Hunston went on. *' What harm can you do me ? "Basked Jack. " I'll try to do you a good deal." " Look here, old man," said Jack, " I consider this in- trusion an impertinence." "I can't help what you consider it" " More than that, I'll have you bound over to keep the peace, for using threats. " "You don't know where to find me," answered Hunston, savagely, "and you never will. I shall always be dog- ging you and hitting you in the dark, but you won't know who does it." "Go away," said Jack, " I don't want you." "I shall not go away," replied Hunston, outtingr him- self in front of hift*. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 155 "Then I shall have to make you." Jack doubled his fists as he spoke. "If you are coward enough to hit a one-armed man, that's another thing/' said Hunston,with a careless laugh. "So you presume on that, do you?" "You did it. You made me what I am; a maimed man. Curse you for it ! " "Was it not your own fault ? Why didn't you let me alone ? " " Because I did not choose to. You ask what harm I can do you. Emily isn't your wife yet, is she ? " said Hunston. ' ' How dare you mention her name to me ? " asked Jack, angrily. " Perhaps you prefer Miss Hilda Manasses. You see, I know all about your Oxford life," cried Hunston, with a provoking laugh. "Come along, Garden," said Jack. "This man is be- coming a nuisance." " All right, old fellow ; lead on," replied the captain of the Oxford crew. " Wait a bit," said Hunston. "Take this slip of paper with you first." "What is it?" inquired Jack, shrinking back, he knew not why. " It's a summons to appear before a judge in chambers to-morrow. " "What for?" "To show cause why you should not be committed to prison for not paying Mr. Moses Manasses a thousand pounds." ' ' So you are doing the Jew's dirty work, are you ? " said Jack, with a contemptuous glance. "Why shouldn't I, if it suits me ?" returned Hunston. boldly. " And playing into the hands of Kemp and Davis." "They are decent fellows enough." "Are they?" "Well, we have one bond of union, and that is our hatred for you," replied Hunston. Jack took the piece of paper, and tore it up in a passion. He cast the pieces to the winds, and they fluttered into the furze bushes. 1 56 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. "I call you to witness, Mr. Garden," said Hunston, " that it was a legal service." "I know nothing about these things," answered Garden. ' He will disregard it at his peril." ' What will be the consequence ? " asked Garden. ' Let him find out. I shall say no more." 'But what is it? Does he owe the money? " 'Ask him," said Hunston, turning sullenly on his heel and walking rapidly away. Harkaway and Garden proceeded some distance in silence. At length Garden said " What is all this about? I don't want to pry into your secrets, but do you owe Manasses this money? " "Yes," replied Jack, shortly. " I suppose I do." ' ' Ho\v ? " " I was rooked out of a bill for that amount." "By whom?" " Kemp." "I always thought that fellow Kemp was a bad lot By Jove, its awkward," exclaimed Garden reflectively. " What would you do ?" asked Jack. " Hanged if I know. Take no notice of it till after the race, anyhow." "Do you think it will be all right?" asked Jack, anxiously. "Better get a solicitor, perhaps ; and yet that will only upset you. Keep quiet till the race is over, for goodness, sake," answered Garden. "I should not like to worry myself. Nothing takes it out of a man so much as worrying. Does it? '' "Nothing, I should think." "Fancy that fellow turning lawyer's clerk, and doing that sort of thing," said Jack. "I thought him dead amongst the Malays." ' ' Think of something else ? They surely can't do much in a week," replied Garden. "When we have rowed you can see to it." "Shall I dismiss it from my mind?" " By all means. Let's have a game at billiards." "I'd rather have a quiet pipe to soothe my nerves," ex claimed Jack. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 157 "That I can't allow. Turn your thoughts in another direction, that's a good fellow. What's going to win the Derby ? " Jack made some random, hap-hazard answer, and they continued to chatter about various matters till they reached the hotel at Putney. He tried to put on a cheerful countenance. But in reality his mind was ill at ease. The reappearance of Hunston on the scene was enough to disconcert him. When he knew that he was working in with Manasses, Kemp and Davis, he felt that he had real cause for alarm. Nevertheless, he took no notice of the summons to appear before a judge. Some days elapsed. He fancied that Hunston's conduct was only intended to frighten him. In fact he began to laugh at the whole affair. Harvey had come up to London, so had Sir Sydney Dawson, the Duke of Woodstock, and other men he knew. Half Oxford and Cambridge were in town to see the race. Harvey called upon him at the hotel where the crew were stopping. "I hear good accounts of you, Jack, in the papers," said Harvey. "Do you?" asked Jack modestly, as if he never read the papers. Whereas it was great fun for the crew every morning to look at all the morning journals, directly after break- fast. They rather liked the criticisms of the press. " It is the general opinion that you are the mainstay of the crew," answered Harvey. "That's all rot," said Jack. " There are many better men in the boat than I." " I can't help what people say." " No, of course not, and it's very kind of you to cheer me up. " "I suppose it is no use asking you to have a friendly drink. " ' ' After the race, dear boy, " 158 JACK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. "There is that fellow Kemp, betting against Oxford like steam," exclaimed Harvey. " Is he ?" said Jack, thinking of Hunston. "Yes. Isn't it rather seedy to bet against one's own university ? " " Kemp generally knows what he is about, though he was a little out over the steeple-chase ; still, it is no use losing one's money. The betting is even, you know." "But he is laying five to four on Cambridge. Is there anything wrong ? " " Not that I know of," replied Jack. " Are you going out to-day ? " asked Harvey. "Just going for a paddle, that's all. We have done our heavy work." "Well, ta, ta, for the present. I'll back you up like bricks to-morrow. When do you start?" "Not till four o'clock in the afternoon, because of the tide," replied Jack. They separated. The Oxford crew went out for a paddle as far as the Soap Works and back again, and all their admirers were in raptures about them. In the evening Jack was standing with Garden in the entrance to the hotel. A couple of men came up. One advanced and said "Mr. Harkaway, I believe." "That's my name," replied Jack. He looked curiously at the shabby genteel person who had accosted him. "A lawyer's clerk for money," was his mental exclam- ation, "or a sheriffs officer." "You are my prisoner," said the man. " What do you mean ? " Jack started back, and a dangerous fire flashed from his eyes. "I arrest you at the suit of Mr. Moses Manasses, of Oxford, for a debt of one thousand pounds, and you must come with me." " Go with you? " repeated Jack, in an abstracted manner. "Unless you can pay the money." "That is impossible, at so short a notice. Why did you not tell me before ? " JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 1 59 " You had due notice. The summons was served upon you, and, as you did not appear, the judge made an order that if the money was not paid in three days, you were to be imprisoned for six weeks at Holloway Gaol, on the debtors' side. I only do my duty, you know, sir. " "But I'm going to row in the Oxford eight to-morrow," said Jack. "I don't think you will, sir," replied the officer, with a cunning leer. " Can't you let this stand over? " said Jack. " Impossible, sir." "Consider my engagement." "That's why they've put the screw on ; that is the reason of the arrest. Old Man asses of Oxford is a rare fox. We know him of old. He's up to all the moves on the board." "What can I do ? " said Jack, turning to Carden. "Come into a private room," replied Carden, "and let us talk for a moment. It will never do to have a scene here, and let all this get about." " I'll follow you, sir," said the officer. Carden led the way into a private room, and the door closed upon the three of them. "Now," said Carden, sitting down, "let us proceed to business. This is not entirely unexpected. Show me your warrant for the arrest." The man did so, and the document was found per- fectly legal. "Have you had notice of this, Harkaway?" con- tinued Carden. "Yes," replied Jack ; "I received a letter, but threw it in the fire." "Can you get the money from your friends? " "I don't like to ask," answered Jack. "My people might pay, but I don't think they would." ' ' Then there is nothing for it but to go with this gentleman." Jack groaned. ''It is an infamous plot. I can see that Kemp has been working upon old Manasses," he said. "We shall lose the race without you, that's a certainty." "Can't you put another man in my place? " 1 60 JACK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. " We must ; but who can we find as good as you at a moment's notice?" replied Garden. "You have been in training for six months, and are an exceptionally good oar. " "It's a case then. Poor old Oxford!" moaned Jack. ' ' I don't care for myself so much I suppose that I shall ?et out of it somehow but I do feel for the university, f this had come after the race, I should not have minded a snap of the fingers." "There's the sting of it. The rascals knew how it would cut you up," said Garden. "Well," exclaimed Jack, philosophically, " it's no use making any bones about it. Call a cab, officer. I'll go with you. Explain it all privately to the crew, Tom, will you kindly ? " "Leave that to me," replied Garden, wringing his hand warmly. "Thanks," said Jack. The tears came into his eyes. A greater blow could not have been administered to him. " If any thing can be done for you between this time and four o'clock to-moirow, old man, it shan't be my fault if it isn't," exclaimed Garden. A few minutes passed in silence. Then the cab drove up. Jack followed the officer, got in, and was slowly drivep off to the City gaol at Holloway. For the first time in his life he was a prisoner. A prisoner for debt, with little chance of release. " If I could only have rowed in the race," he kept on repeating to himself, as the cab lumbered along the dull and muddy roads to the north of London. CHAPTER XXV. IMPRISONED FOR DEBT. THOUGH only imprisoned for a short time, and on the debtor's side of the large castle-like building at Holloway, Jack was miserable enough. JACK HARK A WAY Al OXFORD. 161 The feeling that he was living in the same building with desperate criminals depressed his spirits. A consciousness of the triumph of his enemies, and last, but not least, losing his chance of distinguishing himself in the great race, completely overwhelmed him. The unfortunate debtors were of all kinds and descrip- tions. There were a clergyman, a barrister, an ex-member of Parliament, several merchants and poor gentlemen, tradesmen, and others. They crowded round the new arrival, and offered him spirits and tobacco, which had been smuggled into the gaol, the authorities winking at their consumption. But Jack declined everything. He was sick at heart. The disease was of the mind, not of the body. This, however, is the worst form of disease to cure. Retiring into his room, which was nothing better than a whitewashed cell, he lighted a candle, and throwing himself in a chair, gave himself up to bitter reflection. Kemp and Davis had been too many for him, and Hunston was evidently in alliance with them in some singular manner. The blow was the more severe as it had come from Hunston. At length Jack rose, and paced the room impatiently. He was like a caged lion. If he could have broken the iron bars of the windows, or forced his way out of the gloomy place, he would have done so. His period of depression had worn off, and he became furious. An intense longing for liberty attacked him. Some men in the adjoining apartment were playing at whist Their shouts, laughter, and imprecations fell upon his ears. The poor prisoners were making merry. He cursed them for it in his heart. How dared they be merry when he was so sad ? He forgot that they had been inmates of the debtor's prison longer than he had. Their minds had become hardened, and the misery which had weighed them down at first had worn off. II 1 62 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. At length the time came for the light to be extin- guished. He was not sleepy, and casting himself on the bed, dressed as he was, lay tossing about for hours. Towards morning the grey dawn peeped through the blindless windows. He fell into a fitful slumber. Then he was disturbed by horrid dreams. About eight o'clock he woke hot and feverish. It was with difficulty that he ate a piece of toast and swallowed a cup of tea. He still wore his boating coat, guernsey, and scarf. No attempt did he make to shave, or otherwise make himself tidy. What did he care about the adornment of his person ? Who could see him in prison, and what did it matter if any one did? Was he not a poor, heart-broken, wretched fellow, who had lost all interest in life now he was out of the Oxford eight. That was what he thought. At ten o'clock visitors were allowed to enter the gaol to see the prisoners for debt To Jack's astonishment, he was told a gentleman wanted to see him. "Can he come up here ? " he asked. "No," was the reply. "You must go down to him." Thinking it was Garden, Jack hurried downstairs, and entering the common room, beheld Moses Manasses. "This is adding insult to injury," he exclaimed. "Pardon me; it is not," answered the Jew. "I have come to see you with a special object." " State it briefly, if you please, as I have no inclination to talk to you, and would rather be alone," replied Jack, bluntly. "You owe me money." " I never had a farthing from you." "That is true," answered Manasses. ' ' But you owed it to another for a debt of honour." "Don't talk about it. I admit the debt," said Jack, pettishly. "Well," continued the Jew, "I did not treat you harshly ; I said that I would take the interest only." JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 163 " Why didn't you stick to your word, then ? " " Because you have treated me badly." "I should like to know how," inquired Jack with a d-sdainful laugh. "Did you not make love to my daughter? " "I'll swear I never meant anything; on my word of honour, I didn't," replied Jack, earnestly. " Still the girl thought you did, and she loves you. Am I to have my child's happiness sacrificed through your thoughtlessness? Is it fair? Answer me that, Mr. Harkaway." "If I had anything to blame myself for, I should de- cidedly say 'No, it is not fair,' " replied Jack. The Jew paced the room for a moment or two, as if in deep thought. " Look here/' said Jack, stopping him, "you are rich, Mr. Manasses." " More so than you think." "I'm glad of it, for your sake. Well, I will pay you some of these fine days. Let me out to-day, and you can put me in again to-morrow." "Ah, you want to row. It's a fine thing to be in the university eight ; you get your name in the papers. I know all that," replied Manasses with a cunning laugh. "Hang the papers, and the publicity of them; I'd rather be without that," said Jack hastily. "It is the honour and the glory of rowing a winning race, that's what I care about." " It comes to the same thing. You want to row, do you not, Mr. Harkaway ? " " I'd give my life for it," answered Jack. ' ' I thought so. " "That is why you have put the screw on, you hard- hearted, artful old wretch." " Call me no names. I want your friendship, not your abuse." "You don't go the right way to get it, you confound- edly dodgy son of Israel." "Can I help my race?" exclaimed Manasses. "Is there any harm in being a Jew ? In what is a Christian better than a Jew ? " "We won't argue that point," replied Jack ; "stick to business. Will you let me out ? " 164 JA CK HARK A WA Y A T OXFORD. "Yes," replied Manasses, as if with a sudden burst <* good- nature. "You will ? " cried Jack, gleefully. "I will." "Then I'll say you are the best money-lending Jew in Europe, and you ought to have a putty medal. When can I go ? " "In a short time." "Make haste, the crew will be getting wild without me. I'll drive you down to Putney in a hansom ; we'll have a bit of dinner together and you can see the race, and put your loose cash on Oxford," said Jack. "Not so fast, Mr. Harka way, "replied the Jew, shaking his head. Jack's countenance fell. " You said I might go," he exclaimed. "On one condition," answered Manasses. "What is that? Don't beat about the bush, come to the point, slick. I can't stand any humbugging suspense, " cried Jack, impatiently. "Will you make the only amend in your power, and marry my daughter, Hilda? " said the Jew. " I can't, my good fellow," replied Jack in despair. He had been raised to the height of hope and he was dashed into the depths of despair. "Is that your condition ? " he added. "It is." " If I won't marry Miss Hilda Manasses, you won't let me out of this beastly hole, and I can't row at Putney to-day ? " "Exactly." "It is impossible," said Jack, with a blank look. " Why ? " asked the Jew, whose eager countenance be- spoke the interest he took in this conversation. "Because I am engaged to another young lady, and putting my affections for her, which is the growth of years, on one side, I cannot as a man of honour throw her over." "Then you must stay here," replied the Jew, heaving a deep sigh. "You're a pretty, cool, calculating old beast, to try and work upon me like this," continued Jack, in & rage. The Jew remained silent JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 1 65 " You know," Jack went on, "that I would do almost any mortal thing in the world to row to-day, and you come and tantalize me in this way. " "Marry my daughter," persisted Manasses. "Why not? she is beautiful, she is young, she is rich. You never need do an hour's work all your life, and she loves you." "Turn it up," cried Jack, crossly; "you've got my answer. I'm very sorry for the girl, but I can't help her. " "Very well," cried the Jew, red with passion, "you shall pay the penalty, so help me father Abraham." "Then I'm Jew'd, that's all," replied Jack, putting his hands in his pockets. " Pay the money and you can go. Don't be obstinate, Mr. Harkaway," said Manasses, mockingly. "If you don't go, I'll pay you," cried Jack, raising his foot threateningly. "Nice sort of place this to stay in," continued the Jew, looking round him. Jack could bear no more. He was only human after all, and his endurance had its limits. He gave the Jew a violent kick which lifted him into the air. This was followed by another and another, until at last Mr. Moses Manasses found himself on his hands and knees in the yard. " That will teach you to insult a gentleman, you black- guard, " cried Jack. The Jew clenched his fist threateningly as he rose to his feet. "Sheer off," cried Jack, "unless you want the dose repeated. " Manasses was prudent in his generation. He pocketed the indignity to which he has been sub- jected, and went away with a heavy heart and a sore back. Jack felt better after kicking the Jew. "That's done me good, at any rate," he cried. " What's that ? " asked a voice at his elbow. Jack turned round and beheld Tom Garden, who had just been admitted. 1 66 JACK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. " How are you, old fellow ? " asked Jack. " I am glad to see you. This is good of you. " "What's up? I saw old Manasses bolting out of the gate like one o'clock as I came in." "I've been kicking him, taking cool kicks at his stern, as if we'd been having a kick about at Oxford and he was the foot-ball. " "That's cheerful," laughed Garden. "There is no hope of getting out, though, since I've been unable to make terms with my detaining creditor," continued Jack. " What's to be done? " "Nothing. Case of grin and bear it, though I'm af wild as a hawk or a pair of hawks." "We've got a substitute," remarked Garden. " Have you ? Who is he ? " asked Jack jealously. It cut him to the heart to know that some one else was going to row in his place. "A man named Franklin." " Franklin of St. Aldate's?" "Yes." "I know," replied Jack. "He's one of our ser- vitors." He must be forgiven if he spoke slightly contempt- uously of Franklin. It was hard to be supplanted, and still harder, after training hard for the great race for six months, after look- ing forward to the race all through the dreary winter. "Well," he added, as if sorry for his momentary jeal- ousy, " Franklin's a good man." "Steady fellow, but you could give him pounds, and beat him in a canter," replied Garden. " Perhaps," replied Jack. Garden regarded Harkaway's brawny shoulders, strong back, and sinewy arms, which were all muscle. "You've got a bicep like a giant," he said. "Never mind," sighed Jack, "it's no good now. I shall never go in a boat again." " Don't say that. You'll have a chance next year." Jack looked up and said, "Will the fellows trust me?" JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 167 CHAPTER XXVL HILDA'S GENEROSITY. " WHY should they not trust you ? " asked Garden. " Look how I have thrown them over at the last minute," replied Jack, sorrowfully. " It's not your fault." "Whc anxiety. If we are in undeserved trouble, all of us like to know what our friends and the public say of us. "Say," repeated Garden, "why, they declare it's a beastly chouse. It will play old Harry with Moses Manasses. " "Will it?" ' ' Yes, every fellow I have spoken to swears he'd never do a bill with him if he was so hard up that he didn't know which way to turn for a brass farthing." "You haven't whacked 'it about, have you not much, I mean ? " "I haven't," replied Garden ; " I kept it uncommonly quiet, I can tell you, but some kind friend or other has made a noise over it." " How do you know ? " asked Jack. " Haven't you seen the morning papers? " "No ; hadn't the heart to look." "Well, it is stated by every one there is a change in the Oxford crew." "Really." "They say that Harkaway is put out. The reason is not generally known, but it is supposed he had over- trained." "Overtrained," cried Jack indignantly, "why, I was never in better fettle in my life." He took up a poker lying in the grate, and striking his muscular arm with it, broke it in half as easily as if it had been a bit of glass. " Of course, we know you are all right, " replied Garden ; "but when the reporter of the Times called upon us last 1 68 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. night, and asked to see me, as a rumour that something wrong had got afloat, I was not going to tell him thr real truth." "What did you tell him?'' "Simply that we were obliged to change Mr. Hark- away, and that probably Mr. Franklin of St. Aldate's would take his place. " " You gave no reason." " Was it likely I was going to give those newspaper fellows your whole story, and enable them to write a column upon university extravagance, and the tendency of young men at Oxford to get into debt, and all that sort of thing ? " "You're a good fellow, Tom," replied Jack. "I hope so, old man. I try to be," answered the captain of the O. U. B. C., looking as modest as a young girl who has not had her first kiss. " How's the betting? " asked Jack. " Very flattering to you." "How do you mean ? " "I'll tell you. We've gone down to two to one, laid freely against us, since the change, and it isn't a pound to a pinch of snuff, that six to four on Cambridge isn't laid before the start." A flush of pleasure mantled Jack's face. "So the outsiders think something of me?" he asked. " Rather ! There is quite a wail over your loss. You are supposed to be seedy ; we have kept the real thing dark. Don't get riley ; old Mo' can't be blamed for want- ing his money. It's business." " Business I don't like," growled Jack. "Rather blame Kemp, and Davis, and Hunston." " Perhaps, but Manasses is playing his own game very artfully," replied Jack. " My dear fellow," said Garden, " I have come to the conclusion that money is the great thing in this world." "So have I." " What do people say about a man ? Either he is a good fellow and pays his way, which means that he parts freely, or that he is a duffer and a swindler, which means that he doesn't part. " "Because he can't very often." "We go upon a basis of R, M. D, or ready money JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 1 69 down, that's the thing ; and now I've given you a lecture on the advantage of having heaps of coin and paying cash, I'll take my hook. Bye bye ; keep up your pluck." "Never fear," answered Jack, trying to look jolly. "'Hope you'll win." " Hope so too, but wouldn't bet on it." Tom Garden took his leave, and left Jack the picture of misery. He did not long remain so, however, for he was startled, as soon as he reached his own room, by hearing that a ] ady wanted to see him. " A lady to see me ! " he cried. " Who the deuce can it be ? " In order to solve the difficulty, he went downstairs again. A lady was standing near the doorway, her face shrouded in a thick black veil made of Maltese lace. "I beg your pardon," said Jack, " do you want to see me ? My name is Harkaway." " Have you forgotten me? " replied the lady, in a low, agitated voice. Jack started as he heard the tones. He knew them well. They were soft, sweet, melodious. 'Miss Manasses, I think," he said coldly. 'You used to call me Hilda," she said, with her eyes still cast down. 'Allow me to ask you one question," said Jack. 'Certainly." ' Do you know your father was here just now ? " ' Yes. " ' Do you know his motive for calling upon me ? " 'Yes," she replied again, timidly. 'Then let me tell you," cried Jack, " that I must re- fuse to hold any conversation with you." ' ' Why ? " she asked, raising her eyes to his for the first time. " Do you really want to know ? " There was more than a slight tinge of sarcasm in his tone. This seemed to fire her, and she replied more boldly "You think me unmaidenly ; you fancy that I have come on the same errand, is it not so ? " i -j o JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. " I admit it. What other construction can I put on your visit ? " he said "You do not know me, Mr. Harkaway," she cried, trembling violently either with passion or emotion. " Possibly not.'' " I am not the woman to beg for any man's love. Un- happily you are acquainted with my secret. I do love you ; it is an admission that wrings my heart. Let us forget it for ever." "Willingly, as far as I am concerned," replied Jack, who, nevertheless, could not help feeling some compas- sion for the lovely girl before him. "Shall I tell you why I am here? " she continued. "If you please." "To give you your freedom." " What ! " cried Jack, his eyes almost starting from his head. " I have some money of my own ; it was left me by an uncle," she went on, in a hurried tone. " You want to row to-day ; this disappointment and confinement are kill- ing you. Very well. I have paid the money for which my father holds you a prisoner, and you can go away when you like." A sort of mist swam before Jack's eyes. He did not expect this. It was so noble, so disinterested. He could scarcely believe that what he heard was the truth. If it was true, he would have time to get to Putney, to replace Franklin, and to row after all. His first impulse was to squeeze Hilda by the hand, leave the gaol, jump into a hansom, tell the man to drive " like mad," and be off. Looking at his watch, he saw it was just half-past twelve. ' ' Heaps of time," he muttered "They don't start till four. " "Good-bye, Mr. Harkaway," said Hilda, softly. Her voice recalled him to himself. " How can I thank you," he replied, "for your nobk generosity? " " By trying to think less unkindly of me in future." "I ought to be kicked for what I said ; I deserve it/' he cried JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 1 7 1 "Please recollect what I am going to say," she con- tinued ; " possibly we may never meet again. Beware of three men." ' ' Their names ? " "They are called Kemp, Davis, and Hunston, and they have sworn to ruin you. This is their plot ; my father is not so much to blame. What he did was for my sake." " I knew it," replied Jack. " Farewell for ever," said Hilda. " No," cried Jack ; "at least we may be friends." "It is impossible. We cannot meet after this." " But the money you have paid for me, and which I owe you ? " "Is a gift if yon will accept it," she answered. "Will you not incur your father's displeasure?" he asked. " I can not help that. It was a matter of duty with me to release you ; I have done so. Good-morning. Please let me go now." Jack involuntarily raised her neatly-gloved hand to his lips and kissed it. "I am for ever your debtor," he said. She smiled incredulously. "You will soon forget me," she exclaimed, "and per- haps I shall be where all are forgotten before long. The grave holds few friendships. Once more farewell, Mr. Harkaway." She would not allow him to say any more, but hurriedly left the room. He stood rooted to the spot like one in a dream. CHAPTER XXVII. THE RACE. IT seemed so strange to Jack that he should be able to row in the grand race after all. In order to make sure, he summoned one of the officials of the prison, and asked him to inquire if he was really at liberty. The official returned in a few moments, saying that he 172 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. was informed an order had come up from the sheriff of Middlesex to say that the money was paid. "You've made a short stay, sir," concluded the warder. "Shall you go at once? " "Yes," replied Jack, curtly. " Ah ! most gents do. Would you like to be shaved, sir, before you start ? There's a nice barber round the corner, and a public not far off, if you prefer a drink." "Is there?" answered Jack. "Can you go and order me a rump steak and a pint of porter ? " "Yes, sir." "Quick, then. Get what you like for yourself. There's half-a-crown for you. Come for me when it's ready." The warder started, and Jack walked up and down the yard. He could have jumped for joy. The only drawback to his happiness was that he owed his liberty to Hilda. He might repay her the money some day, but he could never repay her in the way she wanted. How well she had behaved, and how differently to her father ! While he was pacing up and down, a well-known voice exclaimed "Ha ! Mast' Jack, how um do, sare?" Monday stood before him. "Why, you enterprising rascal, how did you find me out here ? " cried Jack, shaking the black by the hand. "Monday him come up to see the big race, sare; him save um money, and he come." "Well?" "Him go to Putney and ask for Mast' Jack ; they say him ill. Monday shake him head, and then Mist' Garden him say Mist' Harkaway in prison." "That's true enough," replied Jack, lookinground upon the high walls and gloomy buildings. They had, however, lost all their terror for him now. "Then," continued Monday, "Mist' Garden him nice gentleman, and he say it only for debt. So Monday got twenty pounds him saved and he bring to Mist' Jack to get him out of um prison." "You're a good-hearted fellow, Monday," said Jack, JA CK HARKAWAY AT O XFORD. \ 7 3 much affected at this proof of his servant's kindness. ' But it is all right now the money's paid." "Paid!" replied Monday. "Mast' Jack going away from um prison ? " "Yes, directly." "And going to row in the big race ? " " I hope so. I'll have a try for it, anyhow." Monday immediately did a war-dance in the exercise ground, to the great astonishment of the prisoners. " That will do, Monday," said Jack. " Hurrah ! Mast' Jack, we lick 'em yet," replied Mon- day, joyfully, grinning all over his face. "Go outside and call a hansom. I shall be with you directly," said Jack. Monday went out, and presently the warder returned, saying the steak was ready. Jack felt that he must keep himself up, though he had no appetite. He had eaten nothing for nearly twenty-four hours. "A man cannot row a long race on an empty stomach, or directly after eating," he thought. " It would be best to eat at once." The steak was soon consumed, and, jumping into the cab, with Monday by his side, he said to the driver "Go as quickly as you can to Putney. Drive like mad. You can have a sovereign for your trouble, if you lose no time." "Right, sir," replied the man, thinking he would like such a fare every day. It was a little past two when the cab drove up to the hotel where the Oxford crew were staying. Telling Monday to pay the driver, Jack sprang out and bounded upstairs. The crew were just thinking of going down to the boat- house. Garden was giving them a few final instructions. Jack heard him say " Now mind, all of you, that you don't try to do too much at first ; don't quicken on the stroke and force tha pace ; pull well through the water, and leave the. rest to the coxswain and me." When Jack entered the room a general exclamation of " Harkaway ! " broke out 1 74 JACK HARKA WA Y A T OXFORD. Had a ghost made its appearance amongst them, there could not have been more surprise exhibited. " Can it be you ? " exclaimed Garden. ' ' We thought you were laid up in Limbo." "The money's paid," replied Jack, "and here \ am." "Can you row ? Are you fit? " asked everybody. "Never was better," answered Jack. Franklin felt some disappointment at not being abla to stay in the boat, but, like a good-natnred, gentlemanly fellow as he was he did not show it. "For my part," he said, "lam delighted to see Mr. Harkaway." ' ' If the captain wishes to retain you, my dear fellow," said Jack, " I shall not say a word." " No, no," was the general cry ; " we must have Hark- away." " Yes," replied Garden. " He's our best man. I don't say it out of disparagement to anybody, but, for the sake of Oxford, we must have him. Have you fed ? " "Splendidly ; had a point steak only an hour ago. I. could struggle with a glass of beer," said Jack. " You shall have it. By Jove ! this puts new pluck into one," replied Garden. The crew crowded round Jack and congratulated him heartily. We must leave them while they are getting ready, in order to visit the river side, which presented an extraor- dinary spectacle. The weather, though cold, was lovely. Vast crowds had assembled on both sides of the river, all along the course. It was difficult to say whether Barnes or Putney was most favoured by spectators. Ladies in broughams and carriages, some wearing Oxford, others wearing Cambridge colours, had taken up favourable positions. Gentlemen, tradesmen, clerks, and even boys were there in thousands. University men greeted one another in the streets. About three a rumour began to circulate that Hark- away, who rowed seven, was in the boat again. This was ridiculed by most. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 1 7 5 But some averred that he had been seen in the boat- house trying his stretcher. The rumor flew to Barnes, where, on a barge, were standing Davis and Kemp. A bookmaker came up and said to Davis "I should advise you to hedge." " Why ? " asked both Davis and Kemp in a breath. "You're standing Cambridge, aren't you?" "Yes." "Well, Harkaway's got well, and he's to row in his old place number seven." " Tell that to the marines. It won't do for able-bodied sailors like us," answered Davis, with an incredulous smile. "All right. I only tell you what they say. The news has just come from Putney," said the betting man, walk- ing away. "Tell anyone who says so it's a confounded lie. We know better than that," shouted Kemp after him. "How people do get up these inventions," remarked Davis to his friend. "Don't they? We know very well that Harkaway is tied hand and foot in the gaol. It's only an hour since I saw old Mo' Manasses." " Harkaway row, indeed ! Not he." "Not much chance," said Kemp. They both laughed at the stupidity of the bare idea. It was so very improbable as to verge on the impossible. They were satisfied. It was not likely they were going to change a halfpenny on their books. They stood to win largely by the triumph of Cambridge, which in the absence of Harkaway, they considered a certainty for the rival university. They would also lose very heavily, but that did not trouble them, as they fancied they were on the right side. The pulses of the spectators beat quicker as the hour of four approached. In a short time it would be all over. The water Derby for that year would have been lost and won. Flags of the gayest colours floated from ali possible ooints. 1 76 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. The sides of the river and the bridges were black with human beings. By three o'clock the Thames police had cleared the course. The steamers allowed to accompany the race, includ- ing the umpire's boat and that of the press, had got their steam up and were lying behind the aqueduct. As the time for the start approached the wildest enthusiasm prevailed. A change had taken place in the betting, which was now even. The Oxford crew were the first to take the water, and were well cheered. A few minutes afterwards Cambridge appeared and were also received with cheers of a deafening description. Tom Garden won the toss, and selected the Middle- sex station. Exactly at ten minutes past four an excellent start was made. Cambridge dashed off with the lead in a most plucky manner. They were rowing forty-six strokes a minute, which was a tremendous pace to go at. And they looked like staying, for a finer set of men, though apparently, in the eyes of good judges, a little overtrained, could not be wished for. Tom Garden only pulled forty-two per minute, but it was a long, telling, powerful stroke. At the "Duke's Head." and past Simmons' boat-house, the Cantabs kept the lead. It was estimated that they were more than half a length ahead. They increased this going up the Reach, and the shouts of "Cambridge! Cambridge!" were deafening and continuous. At the Point they continued to lead, and drew clear. The Oxford coxswain cleverly avoided their wash, and steering splendidly, did not show by the movement of a muscle of his face that he was annoyed at being behind. Suddenly he said "Now, my lads, spurt her! send her along ! That's your style ! " Garden rowing stroke, and Harkaway seven, laid them JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 1 7 7 selves down to their work, like the broad-backed giants they were. The stroke quickened into forty-four a minute, and the boat, answering well to the call, forged ahead. This spurt was answered by their opponents, and a ding-dong race ensued, the Oxford overlapping the Cam- bridge, who were getting a little wild. Now the steerer of the Cantabs endeavoured to take the Oxford water, but fearing a foul, which was imminent, he gave up the intention. It was noticed that he began to steer badly, as if he was getting nervous. Norman, however, the Oxford coxswain, was as cool as a cucumber in July. Instead of shooting in for the dummy at Hammersmith, Cambridge kept the middle of the river. This was a mistake. Garden crept up at the " Crab Tree," and at the Soap Works had gained a material advantage. It was clear that the struggle would be practically finished at Chiswick. Half a length ahead Cambridge passed under Hammer- smith Bridge in eight minutes and a half. "Only half a length," muttered Norman. Tom Garden nodded, and setting his teeth together, leant over his stretcher with a will. At that juncture no man in the boat was doing better work than Jack. He seemed to lift the boat every time he pulled his oar through the water. Harvey was on the bridge, and he cried out " Bravo, Jack ! Stick to it like bricks, old boy ! " The Cambridge crew made a desperate spurt, and still rowing forty-six strokes, they drew themselves clear. Slowly, but with the certainty of fate, the Oxonians collared them. It was impossible to shake them off. At the bottom of Chiswick Eyot they were level. Once more a ding-dong race ensued, which drove the crowd at this point wild with excitement. ' ' Spurt her again ! " said Norman. ' ' Now or never, Tom. jft her, Oxford. Bravo ! well done, stroke and seven. Stick 10 them. Oh ! well rowed, well rowed, indeed, seven ! " 12 1 78 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. Norman declared afterwards that he had never before seen such splendid rowing as Jack's. The muscles on his arms stood out like tightened cords. He moved backwards and forwards like a machine. And such a machine ! He was equal to three men. The treatment he had received from his enemies seemed to lend him supernatural strength. At last Tom Garden's length of stroke, and the gal- lant efforts of Oxford, told in their favour. In the middle of the Eyot they were half a length ahead. At the top they were clear. "Easy, all," said Norman, not wishing to distress his men. The Cambridge forty-six had come down now to forty- two, whilst Oxford rowed forty still, keeping the lead without apparent exertion. The two styles were marked now. Each had settled down to their work, and the pace was what Norman called a "stinger." Oxford rowed in her old form, sharp off the chest, like a billiard ball from a cushion, a slow massive swing for- ward, oars, perfect in time and feather, dropped into the water like hammers and whipped clean through, while the water covered no more than the blades. Cambridge, on the other hand, were dead in recovering from the chest, with a hurried swing forward, blade rather deep, and drag through the water. Davis was looking through a field-glass. His hand fell, and in a startled voice he exclaimed "Oxford leads !" "The deuce she does! That's a bad job ! Give me the glass," said Kemp, who cared more for his dirty money than the honour of the university. "You're right," he continued in a short time. "But who on earth is that fellow slogging away at seven ? " "I can't tell," replied Davis, absently. Swiftly the boats crept up, though it seemed an age to the conspirators. Oxford was still ahead, and holding their opponents well in hand. "By heaven, it's Harkaway ! " cried Kemp, as the eight passed them. JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. j 79 " Can't be ! " answered Davis. " Why, my dear fellow, he's locked up." "I tell you it is. Can't you see him? There is no mistaking the brute." " How did he get out ? " said Davis. "How can I tell any more than you?" answered Kemp, angrily. "It's a case of stump with us, that's all I know. I'm in deeper than I care about. " " So am I. You'll have to lend me a few hundreds." " See you hanged first ! " said Davis. "You shouldn't bet if you can't pay." While this amiable pair were wrangling together, the race was being rowed out. Oxford reached the " Ship " at Mortlake clever and easy winners by six lengths. It was a splendid race, and occupied only twenty-two minutes six seconds. "Hurrah!" cried Norman, relaxing for the first time. "Backwater, bow, and three. Easy, all." A great sob burst from Jack, as his head drooped a little. The pace had been tremendous, and it had told upon him, as well as on the rest of the crew. Tom Garden turned to him, and said " Harkaway, I'm obliged to you." " What for ? " asked Jack, faintly. " You've won this race." "Nonsense. I'll own I'm a bit baked; but I've done no more than the rest of you," replied Jack, modestly. CHAPTER XXVIII. MOLE'S DISCOVERY. WE will pass over the cheers of the crowd, the flatter- ing notices in the papers. We will not dwell upon the champagne cup passed lovingly from hand to hand, the dinner in the evening, or the enthusiasm of Oxford on the return of her heroes. We say nothing about the congratulations of Jack's 1 80 /A CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. friends, the delight of Mr. and Mrs. Bedington. and the raptures of little Emily. It is enough that Jack had done his work, and done it so well as to gain the applause of all. "Pass your examinations as well, and beat your opponents as you beat Cambridge, and I shall be more than satisfied," said his father. "I'll have a try," answered Jack, smiling. "And avoid the fast set," said his mother. "That's more difficult than winning a race, " thought Jack. He only stopped two days in town. When he returned to Oxford, he found everything going on very much as usual. He avoided the Corn Market for fear he might see Hilda. For Moses Manasses he now cared little, as the debt was paid. Harvey came into his rooms after breakfast, and greeted him warmly. "You did that well, Jack. I saw you at Hammer- smith. Splendid race just about there," he exclaimed. "Cut the shop and tell me what's the news," answered Jack. "Mole's got a new sensation on." "Has he? What's that?" "Why, he was walking to Iffley, and in a ditch he found a piece of old stone, on which is what he called a Runic inscription." " How did he get into the ditch, and what's Runic?" asked Jack. " He says he was botanising," replied Harvey. " Humbug ! Tight, you mean," laughed Jack. " Not at all unlikely. Anyhow, he found this wonder- ful stone, which he says is Runic, and that means relat- ing to northern antiquities." " Oh ! something ancient." ' ' Awfully. It's over a thousand years old, he swears. He's taken the opinion of the dons upon it, and it is to be formally presented to the Bodleian." " Where is it ? I should like to see it." "AM right He's left it in my rooms ; come and look at it, " replied Harvey JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. \ 8 1 Jack did so, and, lying on the table, he saw something that looked like a piece broken off an old tombstone. On it was roughly carved these words "Drun. Kasaf. Iddler." A peculiar smile stole over Jack's countenance. "That's Runic, is it ? " he cried. "So they all say." " What a lark ! " cried Jack. "Why, what are you laughing at?" asked Harvey, curiously. "One night last term," said Jack, " Dawson and I were coming home from Sandford in the trap, and we very nearly ran over a drunken man this side of Iffley." "What has that to do with Mole?" "I am coming to it. The fellow was a stonemason, and he had his tools in a bag, and a large stone, which one of our wheels broke in half." "I begin to see," said Harvey. "We got out, put him in the ditch to keep him out of harm's way, and Dawson said, 'Let's write something on his stone.' " " Did you? " " Yes, I did," replied Jack. " This is the very identical stone. I wrote what you see on it, and chucked it into the ditch after him. It was a soft sort of stone, and the chisel did it easily." " What did you write? " "Just what you see ! " answered Jack, still smiling. ' ' But what does it mean ? I can't make anything out of ' Drun. Kasaf. Iddler. ' " " Read it differently, and leave out the stops." Harvey looked at it again, but was still in the dark. " Don't you see, stupid ?" cried Jack. "No, bother me if I can," replied Harvey, scratching his head. "Well, I'll be another Daniel. Wasn't it Daniel who read the writing on the wall ? " "Some Scripture swell. Say it was Daniel ; it doesn't matter. " "You needn't scratch your head, Dick Take 'em as they come," exclaimed Jack. "Don't rile me. Tell me what the Ru what is it? Runic inscription really does mean ? " 182 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. " Simply ' Drunk as a fiddler.' Don't you see ? ' Drun. Kasaf. Iddler,' read properly will make ' drunk as a fid- dler.'" Harvey burst into a roar of laughter. " Mole's sold again," he exclaimed. " Wasn't it a proper thing to write on the cove's stone under the circs.? " ' ' Of course it was. " There was a knock at the door, and Mr. Mole came in. "Ah!" he cried, "looking at my stone? What do you think of it, Harkaway ? " "Grand discovery, sir," replied Jack. " I should say so. They will make me a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries ; that will be F. S. A. Then I should like to belong to the Philosophical Society F. Ph. S. ; also the Society of Arts F. S. A. In fact, it will open the doors of all the learned societies to me." "You ought to add F. A. S. S., sir." "Why, may I ask? I never heard of it. What does it mean ? " "A double S, sir, used to spell donkey," replied Jack. "I am in no humour for chaff; I have a soul above that. Think of my glorious discovery. How it carries the mind back centuries, when the inhabitants of this country were rude and barbarous ! " said Mr. Mole, rub- bing his hands. ' I'm sorry to undeceive you, sir, but that stone is no rel c." : Not a relic ? " cried Mole, in dismay. No, Dawson and I did it." 'Did what?" Jack told him what he had related to Harvey, and ex- plained that "Drun. Kasaf. Iddler." meant simply "Drunk as a fiddler." Mole turned white, red, blue, green, and yellow. He gasped for breath, he reeled in his chair, and nearly fainted. "Oh, Lord!" he exclaimed. "When does the next train start for Liverpool ? I must emigrate ; I shall be off somewhere. Why was I born ? " " To make people laugh, I should say, sir, " answered Jack. "Get me a Bradshaw. Oxford shall know me no more," cried the unhappy man. JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. \ 83 "Don't take on, sir. No one knows the secret but Dawson, Harvey, and I. We won't split," said Jack. "You won't really," replied Mole, brightening up, " on the word of a man ? " Mr. Mole rose, and throwing himself on Jack's shoulder, wept for joy. "Why those weeps?" cried Jack, adding, "That will do, sir. I can't stand too much of it. Stash it." Mole reseated himself. ' ' I will keep up the imposition, and may yet be famous," he said. " I will not leave Oxford, which is so dear to me ; but after the talking monkey, the exposure of my valued stone as a sham would have broken my heart." Mr. Mole went away considerably crestfallen, but taking his Runic stone with him nevertheless. He did not present it to the Bodleian. It remained in his house, and provoked keen discussion among the dons and his pupils for many years afterwards. Jack kept his secret, and no one ever learnt the true origin of the ancient relic, as it was called. Some said the inscription was Chaldean, others that it was Syriac ; and others held that it must be Phoenician. This shows how easily learned men may be deceived. Soon after this affair Fabian Hall returned to Oxford with his father. He had entirely recovered from his wound, and as Jack was glad to see him, they were often together. Sometimes they played cricket in Cowley Marsh, at others they took a gentle canter on Bullingdon. The elder Mr. Hall was highly indignant at the out- rage which had been perpetrated on his son. He blamed the police for their remissness in not finding out the assassin. Although the affair was nearly forgotten, he persisted in offering a large reward for the discovery of the would- be murderer. "I am not afraid of being attacked again," said Fabian one day, as he and Jack were taking a walk in the coun- try, "because it was you the fellow intended to kill." "No doubt of that, but I don't feel nervous," answered Jack, "though I am glad I escaped." " Have you ever seen the one-armed man since ? " "Yes, once." 184 JACK HARKA WA Y AT OXFORD. "You know who he is? " asked Fabian. " Perfectly well ; an old enemy of mine, named Hunston. If I had any proof that he was the man, I would put the police on his track, but I have only sus- picion. It was so dark at the time I could not swear to him." " Did you try to find him ? " "No. His time will come; he will be trying some- thing on again, and I'm ready for him now," replied Jack. "In what way? " Jack put his hand irv his pocket, and produced a piece of iron, with holes fo\ -he fingers to go through. "This fits on the hand," he said; "it is called h knuckle-duster. If I were attacked again, I should use it. " " What a formidable-looking thing," said Fabian; "it would smash a man's skull in, wouldn't it ? " "If you hit hard enough," replied Jack, with a laugh. "At night I always put one hand in my pocket, slip my fingers into the knuckle-duster, and I am ready for the villain." It came on heavily to rain. "We shall get wet," said Fabian ; "can't we turn in somewhere ? " "There is a small wayside pub. a little higher up," answered Jack ; " what do you say to that ? " "No, thanks. I don't like public houses as a rule, and I must not get wet, so I will go back to college, please ; the doctor says I must be careful," replied Fabian Hall. " Very well," replied Jack ; "you shall do as you like. I mean to turn in here." "Good-bye," said Hall, putting up his umbrella, and toddling off on his way home. "Stroll on," said Jack, who had not gone half a dozen paces before he saw Dawson coming along at a good four miles an hour." " Hullo, Dawson ! " he cried. " Doing a constitutional, my boy," cried Dawson. "Got cobwebs in the brain. Too much whisky last night, and now, when I take a ten-miler for my health, it comes on to rain. Like my beastly luck. " "Turn into this pub. with me," said Jack. "Don't mind if I do. Lead the way," replied Dawson. Jack was delighted to have met with a companion. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 1 85 In a few minutes they reached the tavern, and entered. It was a low-looking, tumble-down beer-shop, with a poor, miserable, weak-looking landlady behind the bar. " Have you a room with a fire, where we can sit down till the rain is over, missis ? " asked Jack. "There's the parlour on your right," answered the landlady in a wheezy voice, "you can go in there if you like ; there are some gentlemen there already." "Bring in two mugs of Oxford, arid there is sixpence," said Jack. He pushed the door open, and found himself in a small room, with beer-stained table and benches. A thick pall of tobacco-smoke hung over the narrow, ill-ventilated apartment. Through the mist Jack made out the forms of three men sitting round the fire. They turned their heads as he entered. One was saying " I tell you he has beaten us at every turn. Can't we hit upon something new ? Your idea is " "Hush ! " said the one next to the speaker. Jack uttered a low whistle. The three men by the fire were Davis, Kemp and Hunston. That they were talking of him he did not doubt. It was strange that he should, with Sir Sydney Dawson, intrude upon them in such a place and at such a time. His first impulse was to retire. But, after a moment's consideration, he felt ashamed of such a course. The landlady brought in the beer and placed it on the table. Jack took a seat, as did Dawson, who was rather sur- prised. ' ' Do you see who those men are ? " he whispered hastily. "Yes," said Jack, coolly. "Are you not afraid? " said Sir Sydney, in an agitated manner. "Not much. I never saw the man I was afraid of yet," said Jack. He proceeded leisurely to fill and light his pipe. Then he sipped his ale, and stared insolently at his three enemies. 186 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. CHAPTER XXIX. THE FIGHT AT THE ROADSIDE INN. As Harkaway turned round and saw Kemp, Davis, and Hunston sitting together in the roadside tavern into which he and his friend, Sir Sydney Dawson, had accidentally entered, his enemies saw him. The recognition was mutual. It seemed like going into an hornets' nest. The odds were against him, and in spite of his natural bravery he could not help feeling uncomfortable. Sir Sydney, however, became cool and radiant. "Gentlemen," he said, with a sarcastic emphasis, ' ' driven by stress of weather to take refuge in an hotel I think I may dignify this place of refreshment with the title of hotel, since it has had the honour to receive us we have made our way into this room, which we wish to keep strictly private ; therefore you will at once see the necessity for your going away." "Are you speaking to me? " asked Davis, with an in- solent stare. " I don't know you," answered Sir Sydney ; "but my remark was decidedly addressed to you and your com' panions." "You can see that we are university men by our caps and gowns," continued Davis. "Two of you are so, I presume ; the third is an out- sider. I mean the party who hasn't his proper number of limbs ; cove with one arm, in fact, "answered Dawson. "That is Hunston," whispered Jack. "Isn't Hunston the man who tried to kill you and hurt Hall ? " asked Sir Sydney, in the same tone. "Yes; my enemy; the fellow who is in league with Kemp and Davis to do me all the harm he can ; the man, as you say, who tried to murder me, and nearly killed poor Fabian Hall." Sir Sydney Dawson indulged in a long whistle. "Are you fond of music?" inquired Davis, with a smile. ' ' What's that to you ? " was the reply. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 187 "Only this : if you call whistling music I don't, and if you want to do it again, you had better go outside and amuse yourself." "Cheeky beast ! " exclaimed Jack, angrily. " My good sir," replied Sir Sydney, " I shall continue to amuse myself when and how I think fit, without avail- ing myself of your kind advice. If you do not like my music, you can go somewhere else, as I told you just now. Your room is more agreeable than your company." "It seems to me," said Kemp, chiming in with the conversation, "that we were here first." " What of that ?" " It gives us a right and title to the room." "Which I dispute." "Dispute it as much as you like," continued Kemp. " We are here, and we mean to stop." "Indeed!" "If anyone goes, it will be your friend Mr. Harkaway and yourself." "On any other occasion I should agree with you, be- cause we object to the company of blacklegs and mur- derers," replied Davvson, calmly. Hunston trembled visibly under his dark complexion. Kemp and Davis were livid with rage, and bit their lips with annoyance. ' ' You shall answer for this language, " exclaimed Kemp. "I will horsewhip you within an inch of your life," exclaimed Davis. As for Hunston, he leant over the fire and said nothing. But the fingers of his remaining hand twitched nerv- ously, and his lips were screwed tightly together. He knew he was not much use in a fight. The cruel, but well-deserved shot delivered by Harka- way, which had deprived him of his arm, had prevented him from being a match in a fair stand-up battle with any man. All he could do was to stab in the dark. That was his only resource. . . Nor did he shrink from the commission of crime to gratify his passion for revenge upon Jack, which had existed for such a long time in his cowardly mind. "My good men," exclaimed Sir Sydney, " it comes to 1 88 JACK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. this if you don't go out of this room, I shall be com- pelled to make you." No one stirred. " Make an exception in Mr. Hunston's favour? " put in Jack. "I want to have a word or two with him. 1 shan't be happy if I don't." ' ' By all means. Let the confederate blacklegs retire, and the would-be murderer remain," replied Sir Sydney, lighting a cigar. "This is too much," cried Davis, furiously. "We are two to two, for a one-armed man does not count " 'Unless he has a knife," said Jack ' Anyhow, we will fight before we go." 'As you please," answered Dawson. ' What do you say, Kemp ? " said Davis. 'I'm game for any mortal thing," replied Kemp; " the fact is I can't stand this man's insults." "Go away then. You have the remedy in your own hands," said Jack. "Not for you or anybody like you." Hunston got up from his chair. He faced Sir Sydney Dawson and Harkaway. There was a sullen scowl upon his brow. A murderous expression sat upon his hang-dog face. "Look here," he exclaimed, "I don't care for any- body or anything, that's my state of mind. Don't any ot you rile me further, for I've got a revolver in my pocket, and when I'm overriled, I'm apt to go on the shoot." "On or off the shoot, I'm not afraid of you," replied Jack. "Clear out," continued Hunston. Neither of the two friends moved. Hunston's hand sought his pocket, and he produced a pistol. It had seven chambers. A patent seven-chambered central fire revolver is not the thing to be laughed at "Clear out," he exclaimed again. Taking up a pint pewter pot Jack threw it at Hunston, and succeeded in hitting him on the arm. The pistol fell to the ground without exploding. In an instant Harkaway and Dawson precipitated them- selves upon Kemp and Davis, JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. i i.,j A short struggle ensued. Blows were freely given and exchanged. At length Kemp and Davis were lying on their backs in the passage. Harkaway and his friend were masters of the field. Hunston had retreated, picking up his revolver, and joined his friends outside. Kicking the door to, Sir Sydney exclaimed, with a laugh " That was easily managed." ' ' We told them what they had to expect if they wouldn't go," answered Jack. "The brutes," cried Dawson. -'It's a wonder to me ho\V such fellows are allowed to stay in the university." " No one takes the trouble to expose them ; that is how it is." "Amongst a number of men there will always be a few black sheep." "I suppose so," answered Jack. "They are not pleasant, though." "There we agree," said Sir Sydney. "What do you say to some more beer after our tussle ? " "I'll order some," Jack said, going to the door. He tried to open it, but in vain. The key had been left outside, and it was turned in the lock. Davis and his companion had locked them in. ' We're in a state of siege," said Jack, with a blank look. ; How is that ? " asked Dawson. We're locked in." 'Nonsense." 'It's a fact, though ; we are." Sir Sydney looked round him, and saw a bell rope. " Hooroosh ! " he cried. "Here's a bell, and if they won't answer that, I can see a way out through the window." He rang the bell violently. Once, twice, three times. Nobody came. " This is a rummy-go state of things," he said. "Can I not take mine ease at mine inn, as Falstaff says, with- out being annoyed in this way ? " He went to the door, and put his lips to the keyhole. I 9 TA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. "What ho!" he exclaimed, "within there. Beer, I say. Bring me the foaming goblet, or I'll know the reason why. What ho, varlets ! " Then turning to Jack, he continued "That's how they used to talk to them in the olden times, isn't it?" "Never having lived in the olden times, can't say?" replied Jack. "But it tells you so in books." "Bother books," said Jack. "What's to be done to get out of this ? " As he spoke, a shot was fired through the window. The crashing of the glass mingled with the noise of the explosion and the cries of the widow woman who kept the house. The latter seemed to be expostulating with some one. " This is getting hot," said Jack, with a grim smile. "Too hot to last," replied Dawson, uneasily. " I don't see the fun of being baited like a rat in a trap.' "Nor I. This precious Hunston friend of yours com bines the desperation of a California digger with the plea^ ing ferocity of a Whitechapel garotter. " "I see him," exclaimed Jack. Suddenly he darted to the window, threw it up, an^ jumped into the road. There was a sharp but brief struggle. The next moment Sir Sydney was startled by a fall of a heavy body at his feet. The form of Hunston lay still and motionless. Before he could recover from his astonishment, Jack reappeared, and climbed into the room. He closed the window again and approached the fire- place. " What is the meaning of this? " asked Dawson. "Do you usually chuck people about in this way ? " "I have captured a prisoner, that's all." "Who is it?" " Hunston." "Bravo, our side ! we've got the man 'on the shoot when he's riled,' that's something. What shall we do with him? Roast him over a slow fire," said Sir Sydney. " Let him stay where he is for the present. He won't move yet awhile, I'll lay my life." JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. i 9 1 "Why not?" "Because I gave him a sockdollager under the ear, which will keep him quiet." "About time to do something of the sort, when a man goes on the shoot," said Sir Sydney. " Didn't the bullet whistle close to us?" " Rather too close to be pleasant." Hunston, during this conversation, breathed heavily, but did not show any signs of consciousness. CHAPTER XXX. HUNSTON'S ESCAPE. THERE was no sign that those outside were willing to open the door. On the contrary, a dead silence reigned, which seemed to show that Kemp and Davis had prevailed upon the landlady to remain quiet, and that they did not know Hunston had been captured by Harkaway's raid through the window, which was a mode of egress of which they apparently did not think. Probably they thought Hunston had made off. In a short time the man opened his eyes and staggered to his feet, looking wildly about him. " What are you going to do with me ? " he asked. Sir Sydney Dawson was about to speak, when Jack interrupted him, saying "Leave him to me, please. He's my prisoner." "Certainly, if you wish it." "You and I are old enemies, Mr. Hunston," continued Jack. "That's stale news," replied Hunston, bitterly. "In the old days, when I had both my arms, you would not have found it so easy to throw me through the window as you did to-day. But you were always a coward ! " "I think not," answered Jack. "Anyhow, you were always a liar and a coward too ! " "What's your game ? " Hunston inquired impatiently. "I mean to hand you over to the police." "On what charge?" 192 JACK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. "That of stabbing Mr. Fabian Hall." " I didn't do it," cried Hunston. "You will have to prove that in evidence on the trial. I shall be the principal witness against you." "Nonsense ; you can't convict." "I'll have a try, at all events," replied Jack. "Why do you keep coming continually in my way?" Hunston was silent. "I have no wish to hurt you," continued Jack. " Have you no means of getting a decent living? Must you always be the hired servant of Kemp and Davis, and do their dirty work ? " "If you make enemies I can't help their running you down," replied Hunston. "Very well. When we meet with a noxious reptile, we stamp him out, and that's what I'll do to you," said Jack, in a tone of decision. "I dare say you would like to do it, but you can't. You have no proof. I am a man of the world, and know my way about as well as most people. You can't frighten me as you would a child." It was growing dark, and the embers in the grate burned with a dull red glare, casting weird shadows upon the wall and floor. Jack's mind was carried back to his schooldays, and to the time when he, Hunston, Harvey, and Maple, were, with Mr. Mole, cast upon a desert island. " If I were to allow you to go," said he, " would you promise to let me alone in future, and try to be a re- spectable member of society ? Have I ever done you any real harm ? " "Yes." "When?" asked Jack. "Oh, lots of times. You always triumphed over me at school. And look at this." He pointed to the stump of his arm. " Is this nothing ? " "All your own fault. Cry a go now, and take your hook. I'll lend you a fiver to start with, if you want money, and that is more than your friend Kemp would do for you." " You are something like the donkey who was on the bank of a river," replied Hunston. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. \ 93 " What about him ? " ' ' He-saw a truss of hay on the other side, and there was no bridge to go over by, and he could not swim, yet he wanted the hay. What did he do ? " " I give it up," answered Jack. " That's just what the other stupid ass did," replied Hunston, with a harsh laugh, " and it is what you will have to do with me. You know it, or you wouldn't come soaping me over to keep me quiet." "You are an ungrateful vagabond!" broke in Sir Sydney Dawson, " and if I were Harkaway, I would lock you up, and chance it." Hunston stared rudely at him. "Possibly you would," he said at length. "Why do you say possibly ? " "Because you look fool enough for anything." " By Jove ! it's lucky you have only one arm ! " cried Sir Sydney. " If you had two, I'd thrash you within an inch of your life. " "Or get a thrashing yourself, which is much more likely. Just get out of the way of that door, please." "What for?" "You'll see, if you live long enough." As he spoke he rushed at the door, and hit the lock with his foot, throwing all his force into the shock, so that the fastening, which was never a very good one, gave way, and the door flew open. "That's what you ought to have done at first," he said, with a chuckle. " Stop him ! " cried Sir Sydney. "What's the use ? " said Jack. "I suppose you know your own affairs best, but if it were my case, I would soon settle a fellow like that." " How ? in what way? " said Jack. " Well, I don't know exactly," replied Sir Sydney, looking puzzled. " Lock him up, I suppose." " Then I could not convict him. I have only suspicion to go upon, and no witnesses. The man is as well aware of that as I am," said Jack. "What did you threaten him for then ? " "Out of bounce. I wanted to square him, because I am afraid of him." "So am I," answered Sir Sydney, with a shudder. " I 13 1 94 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. never saw such a rascally mug in my life as that fellow has. Comeback to college." "I'm ready." When they got into the passage, the landlady met them with tears in her eyes. "What's the row with you, mother?" asked Sir Sydney. " Oh, sir," sobbed the old woman, " what am I to do ? There's the door broken, and some glasses smashed, and the gentlemen have had a sight o' beer, and gone away without paying for it." " What's that to do with us. "There is sixpence for what we had." "You are Oxford gentlemen, sir, and I'm sure you will see a poor, lone widow righted. " She wiped her eyes with the corner of her handkerchief. The appeal was irresistible. "Possibly we had something to do with it," said the free and open-hearted baronet ' ' There is half a sovereign for you. Will that do ? " " Heaven bless you, sir, and have you in its keeping. You're the real gentleman, you are, and I'll pray for you this night. May the saints protect you. " "You're an Irishwoman, I should imagine," said Jack. "Shure I'm that same, sir, and small blame to me, seeing I was born in the County Cork, and couldn't help meself. " The young men laughed, and wishing her good-day, walked back to St Aldate's. As they passed the " Mitre," they saw Hunston stand- ing in the doorway talking to the Duke of Woodstock. When the duke and Hunston saw they were perceived, they hastily withdrew into the coffee-room. "Well, I'll be shot if I ever saw anything like that," said Harkaway. "Nor I. There is some mischief in the wind now, I'll bet a new hat," replied Dawson. "The duke and Hunston together! Wonders will never cease. Ought not Woodstock to be told what sort of a fellow has got hold of him ? " "Tell him if you like." "I will, by Jove! " exclaimed Jack. " If you do you will get no thanks for it" JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD, 195 ''Why?" " Because it is some plot or other." "I'll risk being snubbed. Come in with me." "No, thanks," replied Sir Sydney, with a shrug of the shoulders. ' ' I don't care about being mixed up in other people's business. You know the old saying 'Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose.' Excuse me, will you ? " "All right. When I ask you to do anything again, you may tell me of it," replied Jack, flushing angrily. Sir Sydney tucked up his gown, and went down the Corn Market to buy something in a shop, where there was a pretty girl with whom he had no objection to flirt for half an hour. Jack strode into the "Mitre," arching his big broad back like an angry cat, and plunging his hands deep down into his breeches pockets. The sole occupants of the coffee-room on the left-hand side happened at that moment to be the Duke of Wood- stock and Hunston. " You are sure you can get hold of her ? " said the duke earnestly, as Jack crossed the threshold. " Did I ever say I could do a thing when I couldn't?" was the reply. Though Jack was ashamed of listening at any time, he could not help standing still for a moment. "I wanted a shrewd fellow to do my business," con- tinued Woodstock, "and that is why I spoke to Kemp about the matter. Kemp is wather unscwupulous, you know, and aw excuse me I thought if any one could introduce you know aw " ' ' A scoundrel, my lord duke. That's what you wanted to say, is it not ? " put in Hunston. "Aw, yaas ; something like it. Take a joke, eh?" "It is no joke. I am an outcast from society, or, as you say, Mr. Kemp would not have introduced me to your grace. But do you know one thing? " "Aw know great many things, but may not know the particular thing," said the duke, stroking his tawny moustache. "The man who has been the curse of my life is Jack Harkaway." " Indeed aw ! Good wider, Harkaway ; only know 1 96 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. him as a good wider. Beat my animal ; did, indeed. Give you my word. He beat him in aw vewy good style ; fact, indeed. " "You will have nothing to grumble at, your grace, if you trust this affair to me. " " Don't tell Kemp. Not to be trusted, Kemp. Get the girl safe, but say nothing ; aw understand ? " said the duke. "Perfectly." "And now, suppose you are like the rest of them aw ? " " How's that, my lord ? " "You want aw a little on account." "Money is always useful, and I should not object to a bit on account, as you put it," replied Hunston. Jack was utterly at a loss to make head or tail of this conversation, but he thought it time to step forward. Who the girl was, what Hunston was to do with her, and why the duke should pay him for some villany, was a mystery. Stepping forward, he exclaimed "Can I speak to you, Woodstock?" The duke turned round abruptly, and placing a small gold glass in his eye, stared at him curiously. Jack bit his lips with vexation. ' Mr. Harkaway of St. Aldate's, I think ? " he said 'Yes." ' You called me, aw Woodstock, I think ? " 'I did" 'Aw pardon me, but I'm only Woodstock to my friends. Hope you will be good enough to remember that in future aw." " I'll call you anything you like, from Julius Caesar to Judias Iscariot, " replied Jack, impatiently, chafing under his foppish and affected manner, "but I want you to listen to what I have to say. " " Can't you put it in aw witing ? " "If you mean writing, I cannot I want to warn you against the man you are with." "Thanks," replied the duke, "butitis aw perfectly unnecessary. It is indeed." " He is a villain." " Yaas, said the duke with a pleasant smile. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 197 " A bigger scoundrel was never born to be hung." 4 ' Glad to hear it, I am sha w. Vewy glad indeed heard all this before and that's the aw weason I have sent for him. Gweat villain, is he?" "I have told you so," replied Jack. "Vewy good, indeed ; thank you. I shall not hesitate to employ him now. Your recommendation goes a great way ; does weally. Thank you, Mr. aw bad memory for names." " Then you do not mind being seen with a fellow of that description," exclaimed Jack. " Not in the least. Oh, deaw no, Mr. aw what's your name. Wather like it." Turning on his heel Jack walked away indignantly. There was no man in Oxford who could snub any one with such ready ease as the Duke of Woodstock. Hunston's derisive laughter grated unpleasantly in his ears as he left the " Mitre," and wended his way moodily back to college. When he reached his rooms he wanted some tea, but neither his scout nor Monday was to be found. " It's very odd that I can't get any attendance," he growled. Putting the kettle on the fire himself, he sat by it while it boiled, and wondered what his enemies would do next. To his great relief Harvey came in. " Hullo, Dick ! " he exclaimed. " What cheer, my hearty ? " replied Harvey. " Nothing very great. I've been upset." "Who has ventured to disturb your highness's seren- ity ? " " First of all, I have a row with Kemp, Davis and Hun- ston." ' ' Hunston ? " " Yes, then I get snubbed by the Duke of Woodstock for trying to do him a kindness, and after that I come in to tea, and can't get a confounded thing done. Neither Monday nor the scout is to be seen." " I think I can explain Monday's absence," said Harvey. " How?" " A man told me he saw the Black Prince in the Christ- Church meadows, and that he was talking in an excited manner to Buster and that wretch of mine, Clinker. I 198 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFO RD. rather fancy they want to do him some harm, and I came to you to tell you what my supicions were." " Oh, bother Monday, bother everything. If he can't take his own part, he must put up with what he gets," replied Jack. " Won't you protect your pet nigger? " " I have other things to think of." " Come with me. They may chuck Monday into the river. If you won't protect him, I will," exclaimed Harvey. Very reluctantly Jack yielded to his friend's solicitations, and leaving his tea unmade, went through the inner quad of St. Aldate's to the broad walk. Here they met Mr. Mole. " Ha, my dear boys ! " exclaimed Mr. Mole. " I am pleased to see you. In my busy, and I may say fertile brain, I am resolving a knotty problem." " So am I, sir," replied Jack. " Name it. If I can assist you, count upon my help." " Look here, sir. It's rather difficult." "Never mind that. Did difficulties frighten Euclid? Name it." " If my cousin's sixteenth child is my father's own mother, then what relation does St. Paul's Cathedral bear to the Bank of England, and why should apples be more than two penny in Billingsgate on a Sunday?" Mr. Mole smiled a ghastly smile. " That's not Euclid, "he replied, "neither is it Colenso. You are making sport of me, Harkaway." " Not I, sir. Wouldn't do such a thing," replied Jack. " Never mind ; let the young heart be blithe and gay. Whither away in such a hurry ? " " To the river, sir. Our scouts have got hold of Mon- day and we want to rescue him," replied Harvey. ' ' Indeed ! I am with you in such a laudable enterprise. Lead on, we will scatter those scouts in some confusion." " Make haste, sir," replied Jack. " I fancy I hear him. " " Did I ever fail you in the hour of danger ? " asked Mr. Mole. " Never, sir." " Nor will I now. Lead on ; I repeat lead on. Isaac Mole never yet deserted a friend. " JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 199 The three walked hastily towards the Isis. As they neared the river's bank, a voice raised in dis- was distinctly audible. CHAPTER XXXI. THE SCOUT'S REVENGE. THE two scouts, Buster and Clinker might have h&d ffiany differences of opinion. No doubt they had. But they thoroughly agreed in one thing. This was their hatred and detestation of Monday, the faithful black whom Jack had brought with him from Abroad. They had been longing to have their revenge upon him. They waited for an opportunity. It came at last. Monday went for a walk in the Christ-Church meadows, ?nd, while wandering along the shady banks of the Cher^ well, was confronted by the two scouts, arm in arm. "Ha! Mr. Buster, how um do, sare?" exclaimed Monday. The scout favoured him with a scowl. " I'm not going to pass the time of day with the likes of you," answered Buster. " No more ain't I," exclaimed Clinker, with a con~ temptuous glance. " Go on um way, then ; there plenty room," replied Monday. " We shall go on when we choose, and not before, ii is not our rule to be dictated to by blacks." " Blacks in this country ought to be sweeping cross- ings with a broom ; that's all they are fit for," remarked Clinker, with scorn. " You come to Limbi. There you look as funny in your white skin as I look in mine over here. What is the difference, sare? Mans is all the same under um skin," replied Monday. " Is he ? That's a matter of opinion. Do you remem- ber prodding of me with a long spear thing ? "said Buster 200 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. Monday burst out laughing. " You get into um coal bunk, and then you come out black as me," he answered. " I wonder if water would do him any good? "said Clinker, looking at the Cherwell. " Might try a wash, anyhow," replied Buster, taking the hint. " Look out for yourself, Mr. Blackamoor. Can you swim ? " continued Clinker. "Swim? What um mean?" " You are going into that river, and it will teach you, I hope, not to run so cheeky : n future." " An Oxford scout is a gentleman, and not to be hin- sulted by Moors of Venice," observed Buster, drawing himself up proudly, and thinking dimly, not to say vaguely, of some representation he had seen of Othello. " Put um in the water ! " exclaimed Monday in alarm. " No, um won't. Mind um eye, dirty English thief scout mans. " As he spoke he began to dance about in an excited manner. Though he might have been an adept with spears and bows, he did not understand the noble art of self-defence. Buster and Clinker squared up to him with the right hand well up under the chin, and the left ready for hitting. " Look how he puts up his dukes ! " said Buster, allud- ing to the unscientific manner in which Monday doubled his fists. " There's one in the tater trap ! " exclaimed Clinker, making Monday s teeth rattle. "There's ditto on the conk; reg'lar stunning nose- ender. Let him have it, Mr. Clinker." " With the greatest animosity, Mr. Buster, sir. There's a toe-biter for the black scoundrel," answered Clinker. Thus encouraging one another, they pummelled into Monday until his face began to assume the exaggerated proportions of an ugly and ill-formed turnip or mangold wurzel. Suddenly abandoning his tactics, Monday ran his head into Buster's stomach, depriving that somewhat fat indi- vidual of what little wind he had left. Then he placed his hand under his right thigh, and JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 o I with a jerk which would have delighted a Cornish wrestler, threw him over his back into the Cherwell. " Help ! help ! " cried the wretched scout, whose ideas of swimming were rather imperfect. Clinker was astonished at this unexpected turn of affairs. He could scarcely believe the evidence of his senses. Running to the bank, he peered into the water. Buster was just visible above the surface. "Mr. Buster, sir," he exclaimed, "for Heaven's sake hold yourself up. Be brave, sir ; but if you sink, I will be a witness that you were brutally murdered." ' ' Get the drags, you fool ! " answered Buster. "The drags ! Certainly ; but I'm a witness " " I'm a-sinking ! " " I'll have him hanged for your murder; I will indeed, Mr. Buster. And much as I shall regret you, sir," con- tinued Clinker, " I will undertake the care of two of the bests sets of rooms you've got." ' ' Don't stand a-jawing. I'm going fast. Help ! Help ! " roared Buster. "My good sir, let me entreat you to be calm," said Clinker. "G-get the d-drags, " said Buster, his mouth filling with water. "Try a hymn. It's a peaceful thing is a hymn." " Hymns b-be-h-hanged ! Have you got a r-rope ? " " For shame, sir. You should die in peace. Try the first verse of the ' Christian Soldier. ' Oh ! what's that ? Dear me ! it's all over with both of us." Clinker's canting was cut short by Monday, who gathered himself together for another effort. Retiring some distance he took a run. Lifting up his foot, he kicked Clinker cleanly into the Cherwell, and the two scouts were struggling together in the river. A grim smile overspread Buster's face when he saw that he was joined by Clinker. "I like the black for that," he thought. It is pleasant to have a companion in misfortune. The bank was rather steep, but a fallen tree offered a place to hold on by, and Clinker in his desperation, seized this. Buster, with a last effort, grasped his brother scout. 202 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. They raised their voices and roared for help. Monday executed a war-dance on the pathway. Then he sang a song of triumph. It was one of the favorite melodies of his native land At this juncture, Jack and Harvey arrived on the scene of action. "What's all this about, eh, Monday?" asked Jack. "Um beastly scouts, sir. Gone to the debbeL All drown in the water. Ugh ! Monday kill all scouts in Oxford ! " "Go back to college at once. Cut and run, or you will get into trouble," exclaimed Jack. Monday hesitated. "Be off now," continued Jack. Obeying his master, Monday ran off, and Jack, lean- ing over the bank, gave his hand to the discomfited scouts, and safely landed them. They were dripping with water. Their appearance resembled that of drowned rats. Shaking with cold and trembling with fear, they pre- sented a ludicrous appearance. " You're a nice couple of beauties," said Jack. " What do you mean by allowing a poor black to put you in the river ? " "No, sir, begging your pardon," said Buster; "we can't admit that." " How was it then ? " "We fell in, sir." "Oh, did you ? That's funny," replied Jack, with dif- ficulty refraining from laughing. "I happeal to Mr. Clinker, sir, if we did not fall in. He would scorn a huntruth, sir," continued Buster. "It don't matter, nothing don't matter now," sighed Clinker. "I've been and gone and got kicked into the Cherwell by a savage heathen, and I shall never hold hup my head no more." "Come along and change your things," whispered Buster. " Don't let on like tha't, o, we shall be chaffed through the college. It's all a bit if the other scouts get hold of it. " Clinker took his friend's arm, and they walked quickly away together. Jack and Harvey were muc -paused. JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 03 " I don't think they had the best of Monday that jour- ney," said Jack. "Perhaps they will let him alone in future. Wasn't Buster a study ? As for Clinker, his heart seemed broken, " answered Harvey. "It's nearly time for hall," said Jack, looking at his watch. "Yes," said Harvey, " let's make haste back." " I want to write half a dozen lines first. I'll meet you in hall. Good-bye for the present," said Jack. They parted, and Jack wrote his letter. "Take this to the post, Monday," he said, as Buster had not shown up. "Yes, sare," answered Monday, who was on his best behaviour at all times, when in the presence of his master. " Take the Bishop with you. Why, where is Soapy Sam ? A run will do him good, but I don't see the te looked round for the monkey, who was not to be seen. "The monkey, him run out, sare, Monday think." " What makes you think so ? " "Cos when me come back, the door open." "What a nuisance! he's up to so many tricks, you can't tell where he will go, or what he will do. Never mind. Cut off to the post. Recollect too, that I have a wine to-night, and both you and Buster will have to make yourselves handy. My friends are coming at eight. You took all the cards out, I suppose ? " "Yes, sare, and the wine, him all come," replied Mon- day. "That will do then. Cut it ! " Jack went to hall, wondering what on earth had become of the monkey, and what mischief would result from his escape. That evening he gave his first wine. As a freshman in his first term, he could not give a wine party, but now he was out of training and in his second term, he resolved to do the thing in style, and re- turn the hospitality of those friends who had invited him during his early residence in the university. 204 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. CHAPTER XXXIL SOAPY SAM IS UP TO HIS TRICKS. DINNER in hall proceeded very satisfactorily until it was half over. At the dean's table, at the upper end of St Aldate's Hall, was an excellent leg of mutton. Suddenly something jumped on to the back of the dean's chair. It jumped over plates and dishes, and seizing the mutton, bore it away in triumph. Mr. Scraper, the unpopular tutor, who was screwed up in Jack's first term, saw the daring theft. " It is a monkey ! " he exclaimed. ' ' Who does the animal belong to ! " inquired the dean. "Mr. Harkaway, I believe, sir." "Dear me ! this is very improper. I remember now. The creature once appeared in chapel, and burlesqued the pulpit with his presence." " I should expel him from the university, sir," said a tutor. "Rusticate him for a year," remarked another don. " Shy something at him," suggested a young bachelor of arts. The suggestion of the B. A. was received with acclam- ation. There was no dearth of provisions. Yet the loss of the leg of mutton seemed a sacrilege under the circumstances. "By Jove, Harkaway!" said Sir Sydney across the table at the lower end of the hall, where they sat ' ' There's a row on up there. " " What is it ? " ' ' The Bishop's collared a leg of mutton. How did he get in ? " "Confound the brute!" said Jack. "I missed hirn, and knew he would turn up inconveniently somewhere." " Look at him ! look at him ! " cried a dozen voices. With a skill of which only a monkey could be capable, JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 05 he climbed up the front of one of the priceless pictures at the end of the hall. It was a Vandyke. The value of the painting was immense, and grease from the meat would not do it any good. Great excitement prevailed. The dons stood up and regarded the audacious intruder with curiosity not unmixed with indignation. Getting on the top of the frame, the Bishop sat still and chattered away at an immense rate. Evidently he thought he had done a very clever thing. The B. A. who had suggested throwing something at him, took up a piece of household bread and sent it towards the monkey. In an instant dozens of bits of bread found their way from all parts of hall to Soapy Sam. The bread-shower came like hail round his head. But it descended upon the heads of the dean and his attendant dons. "Gentlemen, gentlemen ! " cried the dean. " I beg of you to remember where you are." Another volley of bread followed this speech. "The paintings, gentlemen, are of priceless value. They are historical paintings," he continued. A shout of derisive laughter greeted him. The monkey had to be dislodged, and the under- graduates meant to do it. The mutinous spirit in St. Aldate's was becoming aroused. During his residence at Oxford the Prince of Wales had been a member of St. Aldate's. The monkey, rinding the fire rather hotter than he liked, moved his quarters to a painting representing the prince in his academical robes. Again the shower of bread, this time mingled with potatoes, rained upon the picture. "Take care of the prince, gentlemen," shouted the dean. The prince, however, tottered in his frame. Loud shouts of laughter broke from many a throat The monkey was becoming angry. He raised the leg of mutton threateningly. "I will preserve order," exclaimed the dean furiously. 206 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. " Gentlemen, hear me. I will have discipline main* tained, or I will perish in the attempt." All at once Soapy Sam let the mutton fall. It came with a crash on the head of the dean, who sank down under the table half stunned. " He has perished in the attempt," observed Sir Sydney. "We shall have to mourn for our dean." In a moment, however, the dean reappeared. An awful frown sat on his classic brow. Forgetful of his dignity, he seized the leg of mutton and threw it at the monkey. The shot was a bad one. It only hit the prince in the eye. Jack came to the rescue, and with a well-directed piece of bread, struck the monkey on the head. The creature instantly left his perch, and made his exit through the half-open door, regaining his master's rooms with a sagacity peculiar to himself. "Mr. Harka way, "exclaimed the dean, recovering him- self, " you are indirectly responsible for this outrage upon decency." "Very sorry, I'm sure, sir," replied Jack. " Sorrow befits the occasion, but we must go farther than that. The monkey must be a discommonsed." He smiled slightly at the joke. " I will get Mr. Mole to take care of him, and once out of the precincts of the college, I hope you will consider justice satisfied," said Jack. "With that promise, I rest content" replied the dean. "Gentlemen, proceed with your dinner." Amid much laughter and merry conversation the meal was continued, and every one talked about Harkaway's monkey, who had done more in half an hour to upset the college authorities and render them ridiculous, than the fast set had been able to accomplish in three years. The monkey was sent off by Monday to Mr. Mole, who volunteered to take charge of it until Jack could find it a home. Then the wrath of the dean was appeased. In the evening all Jack's friends turned up at his room. Towards the close of the evening, cigars and wine had taken an effect upon some of the guests. They became uproarious and wanted to burn the JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 207 statue of the founder which stood in the inner quad of St. Aldate's. While Jack was trying to prevent any excess, Monday brought him a message that Manasses, the Jew, wanted to see him. To Monday's message from Manasses Jack replied ' ' Tell him I'm engaged. Can't he come to-morrow ? " "Him say, sare, he not keep you two minit," replied Monday. Turning to his friends, Jack exclaimed "Excuse me, will you, you fellows? A man wants to see me." "Some dun, I'll lay odds," exclaimed Sir Sydney. "Smother him. Put him in the fountain. Sit upon him," cried the fast men in chorus. " If it is a dun, I will deliver him into your hands," answered Jack ; "only let me see him first." In the outer room he found the Jew awaiting him. By the light of a solitary candle which burned on the table, Jack saw that the Israelite was sorely troubled. There was a haggard expression about his eyes, and a look of suffering sat upon his patriarchal countenance. The noise of revelry in the adjoining apartment grated harshly upon his ears. It afforded a strange contrast to the sad and worn appearance of the rich Jew of the Corn Market. " What can I do for you, Mr. Manasses ? " asked Jack, a little coldly, remembering the treatment he had received on the day of the boat-race. "Mr. Harkaway," said the Jew, "I have come to you, because I think my daughter has some claim upon your gratitude." " If it is the old story, I have nothing to say to you." "No, no! Holy Abraham ! that dream is over, and the poor girl knows it. Yet it is of her I would speak. " " What have you to say ? " demanded Jack, curiously. "Not two hours ago my daughter was carried off." "Carried off ! " repeated Jack, in surprise. "Yes. I have received information from one who was passing at the time. Hilda went for a walk. In the road she was seized by a man who had only one arm.' "One arm ! " cried Jack, in astonishment. " Ha I you know him. Can my suspicions be cor- 2 o8 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. rect ?" exclaimed the Jew, adding, "Oh, sir, as you are a Christian gentleman, restore to me my child 1 " Jack was silent. He was thinking of Hunston. He was thinking, also, of the conversation he had partially overheard between the Duke of Woodstock and Hunston in the coffee-room of the "Mitre Hotel," when he had been so curtly dismissed. Could the duke have employed Hunston to carry off the girl ? Misconstruing his silence, the Jew continued "If you have done this thing, may the Lord pardon and forgive you your sin, for I never can. " " I give you my word," said Jack, "that I have had nothing to do with it." "You may despise her because she was a Jewess, and you may have taken advantage of her weakness, be- cause you knew that she loved you." " I tell you you are mistaken." "She was my ewe lamb, the flower of our flock, and the child of my old age, Sir. Think of her misery and my wretchedness," pursued the Jew. "Tell me all you know," answered Jack, earnestly, "and if I can find out the perpetrators of the outrage, I will." " My informant saw her forced into a carriage, and she was quickly driven away in the direction of Abingdon, before he could interfere." "Was the one-armed man with her? " ' ' He was. May the seven plagues of Egypt alight upon his accursed head ! " " Leave the matter in my hands, but at the same time warn the police. I think I can do something for you," said Jack. "My money-bags are at your service. I will add an- other thousand to that my daughter paid for you, but bring her back to me pure as she went away," exclaimed the Jew, clasping his hands. "I don't want your money. An idea has passed through my head I may be wrong, but I think I can find Hilda." " How ? " "Because I know the one-armed man you speak about." JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 209 " Is he a friend of yours ? " asked the Jew, again eye- ing him suspiciously. " On the contrary. He is my constant and determined enemy." " Once you saved her life, Mr. Harkaway ; this time, do more than that, save her honour, and I swear to you that you shall be my heir jointly with her. I swear it on the laws that Moses brought down from the mountain of Sinai. " Jack was about to answer him, when the door opened, and a crowd of undergraduates broke into the roon?. Some carried candles and lamps, some held half-empty bottles in their hands. All were noisy and uproarious, ready for any mischief and full of devilment. Directly they saw the Jew, they raised a great cry. "A Jew ! a Jew !" cried one. " Moses Manasses, by Jove ! " said another. " He discounted my paper," exclaimed a third, " at seventy per cent." " What does he mean by disturbing Harkaway's wine? " said a young lord. " Is this the time to call for money, you old goat ? " "S'helpme Heaven," cried the Jew, talking excitedly, " I never asked for money. He owsh me none." "Out with him. Bait the Jew," said Sir Sydney Daw- son. "Hurrah! A Jew bait! a Jew bait !" cried a dozen voices in chorus. ' ' Shentlemen, shentlemen, what would you do ? " asked the Jew, in abject terror. "Duck him in the fountain," cried Lord Tollington, a youngster of nineteen with more money than brains. A dozen willing hands seized the Jew. ' ' Mister Harkaway, you will help" me ! " said Manasses, wildly struggling with his assailants. Jack did not like to have a row and hit his guests in his own rooms. He did not know what to do. As the Jew was being dragged to the staircase, and his plaintive cries reached his ears, he put his scruples on one side. Dashing forward he hit out right and left. e 10 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. Several men rolled over. "I'm with you, my boy," said a voice at his elbow. Looking hastily round, he saw it was Tom Garden. The captain was looking very fierce and determined. " Set your back to mine," he exclaimed. " We'll pull through. They are all drunk." "Right you are," replied Jack. The men were not at all averse to a fight, and they turned against Garden and Jack. The Jew, seeing his opportunity, slipped down, and doubling under his captors, slipped down the stairs as fast as his aged limbs would permit him. "Stole away, stole away ! Hark for'ard. Gone away. Tally ho ! " exclaimed Lord Tollington. "After him, my boys," cried Sir Sydney, who was rather unsteady on his legs. In an instant, the men who had been, fighting aban- doned that amusement and tore after Manasses. They caught him in the quad. " Make haste," said Tom Garden, wiping his nose, which was bleeding. " I'll follow you," replied Jack, putting his cold knuck- les, in his left eye, which was beginning to swell and burn. They made their way down the staircase and into the quad. It was time. Manasses was again struggling in the midst of a yelling mob of undergraduates. They were close to the fountain. In another moment he would have been plunged into its chilling water. ' ' Let him go, " cried Garden. " Do you call yourselves men ? " "You shan't do it," said Jack. Lord Tollington turned round. "You can't stop us, my dear fellow," he replied. " We'll just duck this son of Israel, and then we will come back and finish your wine." " Oh, Moses ! oh, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ! what a day thish ish," moaned the Jew. " Oh ! Father Abraham, save me from the hands of these Philistines." "Pitch in," said Garden. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. *\\ Jack did not want telling twice. He let fly at the man nearest him, who happened to be Lord Tollington, rolling him over and over. Another and another followed. The captain was equally successful. Two such men as Jack and Garden were a power not to be despised. The best men in the " Varsity eight," they were worth a dozen others. In a short time they had dispersed their assailants. Moses Manasses was standing, with his face bruised and his clothes torn, bemoaning his fate. "Run," said Jack, " run, I tell you. They'll come on again directly. You don't know university men as well as I do." Thus advised the Jew ran for his life. He made his escape. Lord Tollington picked himself up, and came to Jack and Garden, who were standing together, panting. " Are you not pretty well ashamed of yourself, my lord ? " said Garden. " Well, I don't know," answered his lordship. " It was only a lark, and I think you have pummelled me nicely." " Serve you right." ' ' I shouldn't have cared if that Jew beast had not escaped. " " Is a man to be attacked and bullied, half killed, in fact, because he is a Jew ? " asked Jack. " Perhaps some men like Jews' daughters; I've heard the chaff," answered Tollington. Jack's temper was up. At hearing this, he rushed upon his lordship, put his hand under his thigh, lifting him up, bent his neck back with his other arm till he nearly broke it, and pitched him head and heels into the fountain. "That will teach you to keep a civil tongue in your head, my boy," he said, coolly. His lordship struggled in the water for some time, and got out, shaking his fist at Jack. " You shall hear from me," he said. " As soon as you like." "Will you fight a duel?" 212 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. "Go to bed, and talk in the morning," replied Jack. " I'll challenge you, you low cad," continued his lord- ship. Jack turned contemptuously on his heel, and taking Garden's arm, made his way back to his rooms. "What did he mean by challenging me?" asked he. "Why, fighting a duel," said Garden. " Do fellows fight duels here?" "I never heard of it. It is murder if you kill a man in a duel, that's the law ; but you can go over to France." " He's a double-distilled ass," said Jack. " So I think," replied the captain. Most of the men who had pursued Manasses returned to their rooms, feeling ashamed of themselves and not liking to return to the wine. Those who had remained in Harkaway's rooms were those who were too tipsy to join in the Jew bait. They had amused themselves in various congenial ways. One found a clock on the mantelpiece which was in the shape of a hollow globe. The works did not take up much room, so he filled the hole up with old port. Another discovered three pairs of dress boots. Into these he, with drunken gravity, emptied a bottle of claret. A third tried to see how much wine a new hat would hold. While a fourth went into the scout's room, and obtain- ing a can of paraffin oil, began to water the carpet with it to lay the dust. Some others piled all the chairs on the table, and made feeble efforts to set fire to them, thinking it was the fifth of November, and there ought to be a bonfire. In the midst of this havoc and confusion, Jack entered with Garden. He had seen a little misrule at the university, espe- cially in St. Aldate's, but he was not prepared for this. I A CK HA KKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 13 CHAPTER XXXIII. THE CHALLENGE. HARKAWAY had been accustomed to some wild scenes during his life, but the confusion that reigned in his room baffled all his experience. Half a dozen men were standing on chairs, making speeches one against the other. They fancied they were at the "Union," taking part in a debate. Others again singing songs and joining in choruses with a heartiness that made a sort of small Babel or confusion of tongues. The effect was something like this "I say, sir, and I 'will repeat it again and again with all the emphasis that such an important subject demands, that William Ewart Gladstone is" " The mere slave of the Tory party, for" "Many have told of the monks of old, what a jovial crew were they ; for they laughed ha ! ha ! end they quaffed " "Wine, sir, is the root of all evil. If there were no wines at this university, Oxford would be," "The worst place in the world for a man to go to. I have no hesitation in saying that London is a sink of iniquity, in which revel " " The bishops of the church are the defenders of the faith, and he of Oxford I mean the immortal Wilberforce, has truly said" "Champagne Charlie is my name," etc., ad lib. Other men again were doing their little worst to Jack's property. It seemed to be their object to destroy everything they could lay their hands on. One was making cigarettes by tearing leaves out of his "Livy." Another was cutting strips of cloth out of his dressing- gown, and putting them over the chimney of the lamp to burn. A third had the poker red-hot in the fire, and was now and again burning holes in the carpet. A fourth was breaking all the crockery in the cupboard with the tongs. 214 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. The man laughed idiotically at each smash. ' I say, Garden," exclaimed Jack, "I can't stand this." ' It's rather neat, isn't it ? " said Garden, laughing. ' Help me to clear the room, will you ? " ' Think of the laws of hospitality, my dear fellow. " ' That be hanged ; think of my belongings." ' Very well. How shall we begin ? " said Garden. ' Chuck them out, one by one." ' All right. Pitch in. I'll start with the poker cove. You'll want a new carpet to-morrow." " Bother the carpet," said Jack, seizing a man who was boring a hole in the cushion of a chair with a fruit-knife. He soon dragged him to the door and deposited him on the landing. Then he went back for another. He passed Garden on the way, who carried two one in each hand. The men were too far gone to show fight, and took their expulsion very quietly. In about ten minutes the room was cleared. The oak was sported. Jack looked round dismally on the scene of devastation. Ruined furniture, broken mirrors, cracked glasses, smashed crockery met his gaze everywhere. The men outside began to kick at the door and to vociferate loudly. "Kick away, you beauties, you don't come in here," said Garden, with a quiet smile. " No ; I'm jiggered if they do," said Jack. " What do you think of your first wine ? " " Not much, I can tell you. My first shall be my last, " said Jack. "St. Aldate's is coming to something," remarked Car- den. "We hare the reputation of being the fastest col- lege in Oxford, and by Jove, we are trying to deserve our designation." " Haven't they made a clean sweep of it, that's all." "Rather. I never saw such havoc. It's awful," said Garden, adding, "Where did you get your stuff from ? " "My wine? Oh, it's some of the most expensive I could buy." "That is it. Youngsters' nuts are not up to swell JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 215 winee, and the result of your extravagance is a smash-up. Hark at the beggars. What a row they are making. " "Can't we duck them, or something ? " asked Jack. " Let's try. I'll open the oak while you send a pail of water over them. " " Suppose they storm the castle, and get in again ? " "They shan't do that," said Garden. "I'll guard the door. " Jack saw a large pail of dirty water, left by the scout, after washing up some things. Seizing it in his vigorous grasp, and getting his hand well under the bottom, he followed Garden. The door was opened and as quickly shut. But, short as had been the interval, Jack had discharged the contents of the pail full in the face of a mob of howl- ing men. There was a rush backwards. Then a renewed attack on the solid oak. This was accompanied with naughty words and a fierce yelling. " Fire away," said Jack, adding "Make yourself at home, old fellow, if you can. Shall you pitch here to-night ? Better, perhaps, take the sofa ; unless you prefer half my bed." "No, thanks; the sofa will do for me. I can't stand sleeping double," said Garden. "It goes against the grain. " "All right. Will you have the bed ? and I'lltake the rug. " "Don't put yourself out on my account. Give me a blanket, and I shall be as jolly as a sandboy in less than no time." Jack speedily rugged him up on the sofa, and, by de- grees the noisy men outside dispersed, retiring to their rooms. In a short time both Harkaway and Garden were asleep. They did not turn up at chapel in the morning. That was no unusual occurrence with the fast set Monday and Buster groaned when they entered the room and saw the havoc that had been done. The scout was used to that sort of thing. He had seen what we may call several generations of university men. 2 1 6 JACK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. As a rule, young men at Oxford are very much alike. What is done in one man's time is done in another's. So Buster set to work like a philosopher to put thing.: straight. He emptied the wine out of the boots and the clock, cleared away the remains of the orgie, turned the carpet, so that the burnt holes would not be seen, put the injured chair in the background, and in a couple of hours the room looked as if nothing extraordinary had happened, At ten o'clock a very decent breakfast stood on the table, consisting of cold game, hot fish, Strasbourg patties, honey in the comb, tea and coffee, with other trifles. Then he found some soda and brandy, which he gave first to Garden, who drank it eagerly. "Did it hiss as it went down, Buster?" asked Garden. " Didn't hear it, sir," said the scout. " Is Mr. Harkaway up ? " "Not yet, sir. Soon make him show a leg." He went as he spoke, with some more soda and brandy to his master, who speedily turned out of bed. "Here, you Monday, Tuesday," cried Tom Garden, "bring me some soap and water, towels, etc. I suppose you haven't got a spare tub ? " "Only one, sare, and Mist' Harkaway him in it," re- plied Monday. " Hark how um splash about, sare." In fact, Jack w r as in his bath, making a noise like a sportive porpoise. Garden soon dressed himself, and was joined by Jack at the breakfast-table. The London papers had just arrived, and were laid out 'on the table. Everything was in excellent order. "Wonderful man, Buster," exclaimed Jack. "He's cleared the wreck away in a marvellous manner. " " He's used to it. Aren't you, you old villain ? " asked Garden. "Ought to be by this time, sir," said Buster. "I've seen a few things in my time. Spent almost all my life in the 'varsity, but this here spree last night was a lick. Pate, sir ? yes, sir ; all the way from Strasbourg, sir. Made of geese's livers, sir, they do say, and werry nice, too." "What do you know about it, you vagabond ? Shut up. " JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 1 7 "Cert'ny sir. Don't presume to know more than you, sir. " " You old humbug, why, I'll bet that, in your wicked old heart, you are saying to yourself that you have for- gotten twenty years ago more than I have ever known." "Yes, sir, wouldn't like to contradict a gentleman like you, sir. 'Scuse me, sir, knock at the door." "Answer it, then, and keep your confounded tongue quiet. You know I hate you." The scout went to the door, and came back say- ing " Mr. Kemp, sir." ' ' Kemp ? " repeated Jack. "Yes, sir/' " Say I won't see him." " He says he's come from Lord Tollington, sir." " Tollington ? " repeated Jack, adding to Garden, " wasn't he at my wine last night ? " "Of course he was. Don't you remember what hap- pened ? " "Not much. I was so upset with the attack on Man- asses, and the riot afterwards, I am rather fogged." "You punched his head, or something." " Oh, yes, I recollect now. Ask Mr. Kemp to be good enough to step in," said Jack. Kemp entered, looking round him defiantly. " Do you want me ? " asked Jack. " I suppose so, or I should not have called," replied Kemp. "You needn't be insolent, my good fellow, or you will go out a deuced sight quicker than you came in." "That depends upon circumstances. I wasn't drunk last night." " Do you mean to say I was? " asked Jack. " Draw what inference you like from my words. I come from Lord Tollington." " What of that ?" "You will know directly, if you listen." "Go ahead," said Jack. " You insulted his lordship grossly last night and struck him." "Very possibly. I am rather hazy about the affair, but if I did hit him, I'll lay six to four he deserved it." 2 1 8 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. " That is not the question. Lord Tollington has sent me to demand satisfaction." " What ? " exclaimed Jack. "Satisfaction." " Do you mean that he wants to fight a duel with me?" "I do," answered Kemp. "But duelling is illegal in this country." " He is willing to chance that." "Is he? " said Jack, thoughtfully. "If you will not accept the challenge he has sent you by me, he says he will publicly horsewhip you, and brand you as a coward all over Oxford. " "Indeed!" "You may sneer, but you would not like to have bills printed and posted everywhere advertising your cow- ardice," said Kemp. " Perhaps you would post them ? " "I certainly should have no objection," replied Kemp coolly. Jack stared at him in a puzzled sort of manner. At length he said "I am at breakfast now ; would you have any objec- tion to come back again in an hour ? " " Not at all. I will do so with pleasure." "I will give you an answer then." "All right. I am simply the friend of Lord Tolling- ton, and have no wish to be disagreeable, " said Kemp. "Open the door for this gentleman," said Jack. CHAPTER XXXIV. NEGOTIATIONS. " HERE'S a pretty go," said Jack. "Well, what of it," replied Garden. " Fellows go and kick up a row in my room, want to beat a poor old Jew. I punch one man's head, and I get a challenge to fight a duel. " "It isn't pleasant, certainly." "Not at all" JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 1 9 "Shall you fight?" "That's exactly what I want to ask you," replied Jack. "You have been up here longer than I, and you ought to know the manners and customs of the place and be able to advise me what to do." "I must confess," said Garden, "that I never heard of men righting duels. Oh ! yes I did, though ; a man shot another years ago and bolted to Spain. Tollington is a very proud fellow ; he belongs to one of the oldest families in the Kingdom. Catholics I think they are, and he evidently means fighting." "1 should not like to be called a coward." "The law would take your side. It is an offence to send a challenge ; the police would have him up in no time. " "Can't stand police cases," said Jack ; "they are low." "Now I think of it, Tollington is reckoned a dead shot. " " Is he? I'm not a bad hand with a gun, but a pistol is a different thing. " "Tell you what I saw him do for a wager once," con- tinued Garden. "He stuck a nine of diamonds on the wall and at twenty paces he hit each pip in succes- sion." 'That's not bad ; I'm in for it," replied Jack. ' Can you fence ? " asked his friend. "Yes." ' Well ? " ' Pretty well. I know the passes, and can lunge in tierce or quarte, and all that sort of thing. They used to say I made rather pretty play with a sword," replied Jack. "That's your sort then," cried Garden, gleefully. "Tollington is not much of a fencer ; I heard him say so once." "But suppose his lordship chooses pistols?" " He hasn't the choice according to all usage. You as the challenged may select your own weapon, provided it is something of a civilised nature." "Hurrah!" cried Jack; "that will do. I shan't be made cold meat of this time." " Leave it all to me. I will do the needful with you, and talk to Mr. Kemp." 220 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. '' Will you be my second ? " " Of course I will ; didn't I say so ? I'll get the swords and everything, a couple of Toledos beauties, I know where to spot just the pair of irons you will want." " I shall be indebted to you all my life if you will manage the affair for me. As he has challenged me, I must fight, and I'm glad it is not with pistols, because there is less chance of killing one another with swords." "So I think. Keep yourself quiet, and refer Kemp to me when he returns. I'll talk to him like a Dutch uncle," said Garden. "Thanks, old boy ; I shan't forget you." "You'll pink this fighting sprig of nobility, and take some of the courage out of him." As he spoke, Monday again ushered in Kemp. "Am I too soon ? " he asked. "Not at all," replied Jack. "Oh, I thought you looked as if you couldn't make your mind up whether to be shot or kicked," said Kemp, insolently. " This language tc me in my own rooms is unpardon- able, Mr. Kemp," cried Jack ; "and were you not a mes- senger from Lord Tollington, I should turn you out." "An easy way of getting out of a difficulty," sneered Kemp. "As it is," said Jack, advancing threateningly towards Kemp, "I shall request Lord Tollington to send me a gentleman next time/not a swindler." To Jack's taunt Kemp replied "Thank you. You can have another duel on with me if Tollington doesn't settle you." "I wouldn't go out with you." "Really, gentlemen," exclaimed Garden, " I must inter- pose between you. Harkaway, you are wrong to take any notice of Mr. Kemp, and you, sir, have behaved in a scandalous manner, which I will take care is reported to your principal." "Didn't mean anything," said Kemp, abashed at this reproof. "Mr. Harkaway never loses an opportunity of snacking at me." "Be good enough to confine yourself to the business in hand." " I suppose that's soon settled. You don't mean fight- JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 221 ing. It's against the law, and so on. I'd better go on to the saddler's and order Tollington a new whip." Jack started from his chair, flushing angrily. " By Jove ! Garden," he cried, "this is more than I can stand. This fellow wants me to hit him." Garden got between Jack and Kemp, keeping them apart. " Do you refer Mr. Kemp to me, as your friend in this affair ? " he said. "I do." "Then oblige me by sitting down while we negotiate." Jack sat down in his chair again, lit his pipe, and smoked sullenly, while he glared savagely at Kemp, as if he would have liked to have half an hour's pounding at him. "Now, Mr. Kemp," continued Garden, "I have the pleasure of informing you that Mr. Harkaway has accepted Lord Tollington's challenge." "Really ! " said Kemp, evidently surprised. "Perhaps you both of you thought he would not listen to such a proposal. You are mistaken if that was your belief." "Pistols, I suppose ? " "On the contrary ! we have decided upon swords." "But Tollington particularly wishes to use hair trig- gers," said Kemp. "I cannot control his lordship's inclinations," answered Garden, blandly. "I presume, however, that you are aware the choice of weapons lies with my friend, Mr. Harkaway ? " "Why?" " Because he is the party challenged." "Very well ; I suppose it is all right. Forge ahead." "The place must be settled between you and me, as well as the time, etc." "What do you propose?" said Kemp, who appeared considerably crestfallen at the turn affairs were taking. " Place, a hayfield a mile or so out of Sandford, on the high road ; there is a stack near the gate. Do you know it?" ' ' Yes, that will do. " "Time, six o'clock to-morrow morning," continued Garden. " Very well," said Kemp. 222 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. " I will bring weapons, or you may do so. The swords, remember, must be measured, and be of an equal length." "Do you think I would give Tollington a longer sword than Harkaway?" said Kemp, with assumed indignation. "I don't say anything of the kind, but mistakes are possible, and I mean to guard against them," replied Garden, adding, "Is there any further matter that we can debate ? " "No; it's all settled." "Keep it dark then. We don't want half Oxford looking on. Better bring a doctor with you, though." "What for? You haven't killed my man already." "No ; but we mean to have a try for it," said Garden. "Besides, a doctor is useful to both parties. Will you bring one, or shall we ? " ' ' We will, " answered Kemp. "That will do. As we shall not utter a word to a human being, we shall know, if spectators are present, or the police interfere, that it is from your side the infor- mation has come ; understand that, if you please, Mr. Kemp." " We mean fighting quite as much as you do," answered Kemp; "so you needn't flurry your fat about us split- ting." " Good-morning. Monday, open the door for this gentleman. " When Kemp was gone, Jack exclaimed "I can breathe again, now that vulgar brute is out of the room." "So can I. Open the window ; let us purify." "Isn't it odd that when there is anything unpleasant going on with regard to myself, that fellow Kemp is sure to have a ringer in the pie ? " "It is. He manages to get hold of one fellow after another. I heard he was working Lord Tollington, who is a freshman, and getting money out of him at billiards and by betting. " " Shouldn't wonder," said Jack, " if he put Tollington up to the idea of a duel." "Very likely. Now look here, old man. I'll go and get the fencing irons, and we'll have a bout together. You must keep quiet No excitement to-day, mind," said Garden. JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 223 "All right," answered Jack. " I don't want to kill my opponent, but I should like to give him a lesson." "If you do kill him by an unlucky thrust, you will have to bolt abroad." " Shall I ? " "Undoubtedly. Duelling is illegal. If a man kill an- other in a duel, the law says it is murder, and you will either be hanged or imprisoned for life. " " Nice prospect, that," replied Jack, with a sickly smile. " I begin to think I am in for a good thing." "Deuced nasty uncomfortable thing; but you must pull through it somehow." "I'm not funking," Jack replied. "Only an affair of this sort makes one rather solemn." He went for the swords, and returned in about half an hour with two beauties, light, delicate, well-tempered, and elastic as whalebone. They immediately had a set-to, and Tom Garden ex- pressed himself satisfied when, at the expiration of an hour, they left off. "I learnt fencing when I was at Eton under Angelo, the best man in England," he answered. " You fence well," said Jack, "and no mistake." "Yes. I was considered a good hand at it. I won the foils in my year." " I must really thank you for putting me up to several wrinkles," continued Jack. "That feint of yours in tierce, and the lunge afterwards, is splendid." "Generally so considered. It lays your adversary open to you ; and if you watch your opportunity, you cannot help spitting him through the right arm, near the shoulder-blade." " In Germany, I believe, the students at the universities of Bonn, Heidelberg, Gottingen, etc., always settle their differences with the sword." " Yes, but they only hit in the face. It is not fair to strike anywhere else, and that accounts for the hideous scars so many Germans have on their faces." "Well," said Jack, "I look forward with hope to the future. Shall I make my will ? " "You've got nothing to leave, have you ? " "Not till the governor croaks. Oh, yes, there is the monkey," replied Jack, with a laugh. 224 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFQRD. " Let him take his chance, he's all safe with Mole." " There is just this little portrait of Emily," said Jack ; " the one in my locket. If anything should happen, give it to her, will you ? " ' ' You are miles off being what doctors and undertakers call a stiff 'un," replied Garden. "But I'll think of it, if " He did not conclude the sentence. Jack's life was in the hands of a merciful Providence. Everything depended on the morrow, upon a cool head, and a steady hand. He did not wish to frighten him. CHAPTER XXXV. THE DUEL. AFTER all, Jack went out to take a constitutional. While he was gone for his walk, Harvey came to Car- den's rooms, and found him indulging in black coffee and brandy, smoking a very big cigar, and lolling lazily upon a sofa. "How do. Garden?" said Harvey. "Seen anything of Jack?" ' ' Yes ; he's gone for a stroll. " " Oh, I wondered where he was. Monday said he had not been in since hall, and couldn't make out where he had got to." " Do you want him ? " "Well, yes, I do." "Anything important ? " "To him it is." "Well, then, postpone it till to-morrow morning to oblige me." "Why ? " asked Harvey. "I have my reasons." "Can't you tell a fellow ? " "No, not now. You will know all at breakfast-time to-morrow morning ; but what is the news ? " "Well, as you are so uncommunicative, I don't see why I should open my mouth any more than you. " JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 225 "You are Harkaway's friend, are you not ?" "I hope so. We were schoolfellows together, and I don't suppose it is any secret that if it had not been for Jack's kindness, I should not be up at Oxford now." " Very well, then ; you must not excite him to-night." " It's all very well to puzzle a man by talking in this enigmatical manner, "replied Harvey, peevishly. "Can't you tell me what's on ? " " Can't you tell me ? The thing cuts both ways." "I won't speak unless you do." "If you'll speak first, I'll enlighten you afterwards. Will that do, exacting beast? " replied Garden. "All right A servant has been over here from Oakley Wood." "Where is that?" " Oh, a few miles out of Oxford." " Who lives there? I am in the dark." "I thought you knew," said Harvey. "It is Mr. Travers's place, and Emily is governess there." " Who is Emily ?" "Why, Jack's young lady. You call yourself a friend of Harkaway's, and you haven't heard of her." "Perhaps I have. I may have forgotten; anyhow, I don't remember." "Emily and Jack were engaged a long time ago, before we got wrecked in the China seas ; he saved her from a lot of perils ; her people are dead, and she has gone out as a governess rather than be dependent upon Jack's people. Now do you see ? " " Je twiggay that is to say, I twig,*' said Garden. "Well, Emily has suddenly disappeared, and no one knows where she has gone to." "Der teuffel," exclaimed Garden, who seemed in the humour for making experiments in foreign language. " What may that mean in English? " Garden pointed to the floor with his finger. " Gentleman downstairs. Name begins with D and ends with L. We never mention him in polite so- ciety." "Oh, I know, the d . Call him Satan ; it sounds better," said Harvey. " These disappearances are becoming the rage," said Garden. "First of all. Miss Hilda Manasses vanishes 226 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. from the festive scene, then the gentle Emily is non est. It is a case for the police. " "Won't Jack be upset, that's all" "I should think so." " He'll rave and tear like a mad bull." "Enough to make him, and that is just why I don't want the news to reach him till to-morrow. Who besides you saw the messenger from Oakley Wood?" "No one." "Are you sure?" "Well, Monday ushered the servant in while I was sitting in Jack's rooms, but he did not hear a word that passed. Mrs. Travers wished to inquire if Miss Emily had been to Oxford to see Mr. Harkaway, as she knew they were engaged, and Emily had been missing since breakfast-time." "I see. It's all right Not a syllable of this must reach Harka way's ears." "Why?" "He is going to fight a duel with swords to-morrow morning." Harvey jumped out of his chair with amazement "Now you're joking," he exclaimed. "Am I ? I'll take my oath I was never more serious in my life." "Who with?" "Lord Tollington." " Oh, I heard something about him slipping into Tol- lington. So they are going to fight, eh ? " "Tollington challenged him." "Why didn't you stop it ? " "Simply because I could not do so. His lordship said he would publicly insult him if he did not accept the challenge. Fighting with swords is not always fatal, and I thought that it was best to let it come off." "Jack can fence a little," said Harvey, thoughtfully. "A good deal, you mean; he's all there at it Now you see why I don't want him upset." " Of course. Are you his second ? * " I have that distinguished honour." " I wonder he did not come to me," said Harvey, a little hurt "But I'm pleased to think he is in good hands." JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 227 "The fact is, the whole thing was unexpected. I was sitting in Harkaway's rooms when Kemp brought in the challenge, and he asked me to manage it for him." "So Kemp's in it" "Yes." "Then they have got it up for Harkaway between them ; they'll do him some injury before they have done with him. I never saw such determined enemies as he has got." "There shall be nothing unfair on this occasion," answered Garden. " I promise you I will see him safely through it." ' ' Can I come ? " "No; I am sorry to say that we have pledged our- selves to have no one on the ground but the principals, seconds, and the doctor," "Iflcan't, I can't, "said Harvey ; " but I should tike to see it all. If Tollington hurts Jack, I'll fight him myself. " " So you shall," replied Garden ; " but I hope it will be the other way. " Harvey stayed a little longer in Garden's room, but did /iot attempt to see Jack that evening. Fighting a duel is a serious matter. The intelligence he had to communicate would have un- nerved Harkaway, and given his opponent an advantage over him. Therefore, he felt persuaded that Garden was right in asking him to postpone the delivery of the news until the following day. The night passed anxiously for all parties concerned. Jack woke up more than once, having had bad dreams, but at half-past four, when his second, who had not at- tempted to sleep, came to his bedside, he sprang up eagerly. "Is it time to make a start ? " he said. "Yes ; we have some distance to drive." " Where is the trap ? " " At the stable. It will be ready at five sharp. How do you feel ? " "Fresh as paint," answered Jack "Stand on one side while I roll into my tub. " Garden got out of his way, and Jack plunged into the invigorating water, sponging himself and splashing about sportively. 228 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. In ten minutes he was dressed. It was a lovely morning in May. The sun had just risen as they reached the stable, and the air was warm and genial. They found the dog-cart waiting for them, got in Garden handling the ' ' ribbons, " as he playfully called the reins and they were soon spanking along the Iffley Road. " I was half afraid you wouldn't wake," remarked Jack. ' ' No more I did. " "Some one called you, then ? " "Wrong again. I did not go to sleep. There was a Van John party going on in Seymour's rooms, so I tod- dled over, won a fiver, and left them at it." "By Jove ! Your nerves must be strong." "I hope so. If they were not they would not be of nuch use to me," answered Garden, with a smile. As they went along, Tom gave his companion a few words of final instruction and encouragement. " You are both of you young and full of wind, " he said, " so that the chances are Tollington will last as long as you. It's no use trying to hit hard with a sword, as if you were playing at singlestick. Rely upon skill, and remember all I have told you. " Jack said he would do his best. When they reached the field, Garden alighted from the trap, opened a gate, led the horse in, pulJed him some hay out of the rick, and left him standing in a sheltered place, free from observation. "We are first on the ground," he observed. Scarcely had he spoken, before the sound of wheels was heard. . Another trap entered the field, and it contained three men. A glance sufficed to show that it held Kemp, Lord Tollington, and a little man dressed in black, who from a case of instruments he carried under his arm, it was fair to suppose was the doctor. " Got a sawbones," muttered Jack. Garden and Kemp bowed to each other. Lord Tollington was smoking a cigar with the utmost nonchalance. He chatted gaily with the doctor, as if nothing unusual was about to happen. JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 229 "Where are your swords ?" asked Kemp. " Here," replied Garden, producing his case. Kemp examined them carefully and was satisfied with his inspection. " They will do," he exclaimed. "By-the-bye, may I say two words to Harkaway ? " "Certainly not," answered the other, suspiciously. " I merely wanted to tell him something." " Send any message you like through me." "Well, then, tell him Emily has vanished no one knows where," said Kemp. Garden felt a strong inclination to knock the villain down. He felt instantly that this intelligence was intended to weaken and unnerve Harkaway at the last moment Putting on a careless air, he replied " Oh, that is stale news. We heard that last night." " Did you ? " said Kemp, looking at him inquiringly. "That's all I wanted to say. Is your man ready ?" ' ' He will be in two minutes. See after your principal. " " Does the first wound stop the fight ? said Garden. ' ' Yes, the first serious wound ; but not a mere scratch. " " Of course not ; that is understood." Going over to Harkaway, Tom Garden exclaimed "Strip, old fellow, and take your sword." Jack quickly took off his coat, waistcoat, and braces. He stood there in his trousers and shirt Round his waist he tied a belt, sailer fashion. His shoes were very light and elastic. Taking his sword in his hand, he walked to an open spot indicated. "I think, Mr. Kemp," observed Garden, "that if we place our men north and south, neither will have the dis- advantage of the rising sun." "No ; I think not," replied Kemp. Lord Tolhngton and Harkaway faced one another. "Will the man apologise?" inquired his lordship of Kemp, looking round in a supercilious manner. Kemp repeated the question to Garden, who answered "If his lordship will express his regret for his extraor- dinary conduct, which led to Mr. Harkaway's chastising him, probably Mr. Harkaway will admit his sorrow at having inflicted bodily pain upon Lord Tollington." 230 JA CK HARK A IV AY AT OXFORD. "That is absurd. En garde, sir," replied his lordship, saluting. The swords clashed in the salute. Then each combatant stepped back ; each one's eyes fixed upon the other's ; every muscle rigid as iron, each face determined and resolute. In form Tollington was about Jack's height, and bore some resemblance to him, though the latter was more stoutly built. The birds sang merrily in the trees and hedgerows ; the kine lowed in the meadows, and a gentle breeze wafted the perfume of the May towards the collegians. Much as Jack had profited by Garden's instructions, they did not seem to avail him much. If he tried a feint, Lord Tollington was prepared for him. If he made a desperate and clever thrust, his lordship parried it. The fact was that Tollington had also been at Eton, and had learnt fencing from the same master who taught Garden ; therefore they were both acquainted with the same tricks of fence. For fully ten minutes they continued to fight without either obtaining a sensible advantage. At the expiration of that time his lordship succeeded in slightly touching Jack in the breast The blood ran down his white shirt, and stained it crimson. Jack became more wary. He felt that he was not much hurt, and restraining his nervousness, he watched narrowly for an opportunity. It came at last. A whistle was heard in the hedgerow. 'Some one coming," exclaimed Kemp, incautiously. Lord Tollington did not pay any attention to this remark, but kept his eye fixed on his adversary. Jack, by a dexterous turn of the wrist, inflicted a severe wound on his lordship. The unhappy young nobleman fell to the ground with a groan, deluging the greensward with his blood, as Jack deftly withdrew his blade. In an instant Kemp was supporting him. The surgeon was also by his side, examining the JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 23 i wound, which he proceeded to bind up to stop the hem- orrhage. "Eh, lad!" exclaimed a voice. "Be they Oxford gentlemen a-foighting \vi' swords?" Garden saw a country bumpkin eating some bread and bacon. "Here's half-a-crown for you," he said " Go to your work and hold your tongue." " Haud my tongue for haaf-a-crown ? That's not me. I mun ha' a suverin'," answered the bumpkin, with a knowing look. "That's all you'll get from me," said Tom Garden, giv- ing him a hearty kick; "and now be off, unless you want another." Bumpkin slunk away without another word. After getting to a safe distance he stopped. " Gie oi the 'aaf crown," he said. "See you hanged first." Jack had hastily put on his clothes, and, going to the surgeon, inquired anxiously after his adversary. " I hope sincerely he is not much hurt," he said. "The wound is not mortal," said the doctor, "but he will have to lay up for some time. Fortunately the part touched is fleshy, and no important vessels in the way." "That is jolly," said Jack. " Can we render you any assistance ? " "None, thanks. We must get him back to college as soon as possible, and say he has a fever." Jack shook the doctor by the hand and rejoined Garden, who had already taken the dog-cart into the road. " He's not fatally hurt," he exclaimed. "Hurrah ! " "I knew that by the way he was hit Jump in. It's all right/' said the inperturbable Garden. Jack was soon by his side and rolling back to Oxford. "I shall have an appetite for breakfast now," he ob- served. "How about your wound? Did he let the daylight in ? " asked Garden, whipping up the horse. " Oh, no. It's merely a scratch. The bone stopped the point of the sword." " Lucky for you. He fenced better than I expected." ''So I thought It was my idea, at one time, that he was too good for me. " 232 JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. "You are well out of it, old fellow. I congratulate you." "Thanks. It has ended better than I hoped," replied Jack. "Do you remember what Hudibras says?" asked Garden. "No; what?" "Ah, me ! what perils do environ the man who meddles with cold iron. " Jack laughed. "Well, it wasn't altogether my fault," he said, "and, if fellows will fight, why, they must." With this philosophical remark, he contented himself till they reached Oxford, where they arrived in time for chapel. Tack did not attend very much to the service that morning. His thoughts were diverted from religious exercises, and some excuse must be made for him when we consider the excitement he had passed through. Garden linked his arm in his as they left the chapel, and said "You will breakfast with me? " "Thanks," replied Jack, "I don't like to trespass on your good nature. You must be tired, as you have been up all night, on my account, too. I suppose you will shirk lectures and turn in ? " " No ; I shall go to lectures, and sleep there if I feel tired, but, in fact, at our ages a man never ought to feel tired. You must come with me because I have some- thing to tell you." "Touching what?" "I shan't say a word till you've fed. Then you shall know my secret." Totally ignorant of his meaning, and thinking that his friend was only joking with him, Jack went to breakfast, to which he did ploughman's justice. "Now," said Garden, lighting a cigar, "we will proceed to revelations. Don't you smoke ? " "Yes; I shall put on a modest pipe," replied Jack, charging his well-blacked meerschaum with Bristol bird's- eye. ' Don't be alarmed at what I am going to tell you." " That depends. What is it?" JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 233 "You are spooney on a little girl named Emily, at Oakley Wood/' ' ' Mrs. Travers's place. She is governess there. What of her? " cried Jack, excitedly. "She has been missing since yesterday morning." " Who told you this ?" " Harvey. He saw a messenger last night from Oakley Wood." "Why did you not let me know at once? It was wrong of you ; very wrong, indeed," said Jack. "No, it was not, and I will tell you why. If you had known it you would have been no good in the duel this morning, and got pinked instead of Tollington." "It is very odd," said Jack, musingly. "First of all Hilda Man asses vanishes, and then Emily. Who can have done it? " " I think Mr. Kemp knows more about it than he would like to tell." "Why?" "Because he wanted me to mention it to you just before the duel began," " Did he ! Then it's a plot of Davis's, I'll lay my life," exclaimed Jack, adding, "what is to be done?" He threw down his pipe and groaned. His enemies had touched him in a sore point when they attacked his darling Emily. They had tried to make her jealous through Hilda. They had endeavoured to keep him out of the boat in the 'varsity race. Hunston had made an attempt on his life, and they had striven hard to get Lord Tollington to kill him. In all these attempts they had failed. But at last they had inflicted a wound on his heart which would take a long time to heal. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE CAPTIVE MAIDENS. THE secret of the duel was well kept. Lord Tollington was reported to be suffering from an attack of low fever, not contagious, which in a few weeks would be cured. 234 J A CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. The authorities of St. Aldate's were far from suspecting that a desperate duel had been fought by two gentlemen in residence in the college. Jack sent Monday every day to inquire after the health of his injured opponent, and once or twice ventured to make him presents of grapes and flowers. These were invariably returned with a polite message by his lordship's scout. In every way in his power Jack tried to find out what had become of Hilda and Emily, but without success. The truth was that the Duke of Woodstock had em- ployed Hunston to carry off the beautiful Jewess. Frank Davis had given him a similar mission with regard to Emily. Hunston had acquitted himself well of the double trust, and received handsome payment for his villainy. The two maidens had been taken to a labourer's cottage a few miles out of Oxford. This cottage was situated near a wood, and being built in a secluded spot, very few people passed near it. An agricultural labourer, his wife and two sons, lived in it. For a good round sum, paid in advance, the labourer agreed to guard the girls. He gave them the three rooms at the top of the house, undertaking that they should not escape. His wife brought them their meals, and books were supplied them to beguile the monotony of their captivity. At the bottom of the stairs an unusually fierce mastiff dog was chained, and he barked and tore at the chain when either of the prisoners appeared on the stairs. The height of the windows from the ground rendered escape impossible in that direction. Hilda had arrived at the cottage some hours before Emily, but agitated and alarmed as she was, she hailed the advent of a companion with joy. After they had been together a few hours they became great friends. Emily fancied she had seen Hilda somewhere before, and told her so. Then it flashed across both their minds how they had met in the Broad Walk, when Hilda was hanging upon Jack's arm. JA CfC HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 235 They saw in an instant they loved the same man. " Mr. Harkaway is your sweetheart, dear," said Hilda. " I will not think of him any more. If I had known this at first, I would not have been so silly as to love him." "We cannot control our hearts," replied Emily, "and I am sure you were not to blame. " " Have you forgiven me for seeming to step between you and your love? " "Long ago. Jack explained it all to me. Let us not think of the past ; our common danger is so great that we must be sisters to each other." "Willingly, dear Emily," answered Hilda, kissing her tenderly. " I wish Mr. Harkaway knew where we are." "So do I; he would quickly liberate us; but what I want to know is why we have been taken here, and with what object." "Can you think of no one who has perscuteed you with his attentions ? " "There is only Frank Davis from Singapore ; he carried me off once before it may be he ; and you, dear, have you no tiresome lover? Surely, with your beauty, you must have many admirers." "The Duke of Woodstock has been paying me atten- tions, but I have given him no encouragement because I fancied he was not honourable. The money-lender's daughter, the Jewess, belonging to a despised race, is no match for a duke of England," replied Hilda. "And if she were, would you wed?" asked Emily, smiling. "Perhaps I know not," answered Hilda in some con- fusion. "Now I know Mr. Harkaway can never be mine, I might do worse than marry a handsome young gentleman for his money and title." "If it should be as you suspect," replied Emily, "we will try and frighten his grace into matrimony. I feel persuaded our friends will find us, and perhaps his lord" ship would prefer to marry the beautiful Hilda, rathei than be publicly prosecuted for what the law calls abduc- tion. As for Mr. Davis, I will not rest satisfied until tha authorities expel him from Oxford." Hilda regarded her courageous friend with admira< tion. " How brave you are, dear," she said. 236 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. " If you had met with the startling adventures I did after I was wrecked, you would know how to think and act in an emergency likethis," replied Emily. Then she related several incidents of their stay in Pisang, praising Jack unavoidably for the share he took in them, till Hilda's face glowed, and she felt that Harkaway was worthy of any woman's love, for he was a hero, without fear and without reproach. A week passed without the girls seeing any one, or being able to glean any intelligence from the old woman who attended to their wants. Their alarm increased as the time glided by. At length their doubts were put an end to by the ap- pearance of the Duke of Woodstock and Frank Davis, who entered the little sitting-room together. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon. The day had been foggy and cloudy. Rain was falling heavily, and without all was as cold and dreary as the girls' hearts. " Pardon our intrusion upon your charming privacy, young ladies," said Davis. "We could not keep so much loveliness cooped up any longer without coming to look at it." Hilda was too much frightened to speak. But Emily was equal to the occasion. "Our suspicions were correct, it seems," she said, "when they pointed to you two as our abductors. Your companion, I presume, is the Duke of Woodstock ? " "Aw no," answered the duke. "Fact is, name of Smith. Mr. Smith of London. Very common name aw." "Whoever you are," answered Emily, "depend upon it you will have to pay dearly for this outrage." "Hope not, aw'm sure," said the duke. "Got no money aw bad thing to be aw without money." " How long do you mean to keep us here, and what is your object, Mr. Davis?" continued Emily. "You and I are old enemies. We understand one another, and I can talk to you, but not to that affected and conceited noble- man by your side." " Baw Jove !" muttered the duke, "little girl's got a good aw cheek. Fancy she's giving it me aw wather stwong. " JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 237 "Your question is easily answered," replied Davis. "You will not leave this place until you are my wife." "Indeed ! " she said, with a- scornful curl o.f the lip. "You choose an agreeable way of courting. If that is your determination I fear I shall spend the remainder of my life here; arid Hilda, what is to be her fate? the same, I suppose ? " ' ' Yes ; his grace " "Smith, my dear fellow. You forget. Say Smith," put in the duke. ' ' Nonsense. They know who you are, " rejoined Davis, impatiently. "The Duke of Woodstock, I say, Miss Scratchley, is resolved to wed Miss Hilda." " Whether she will or not ? " "Exactly." "I suppose you have some mock marriage in contem- plation, and have employed some villain like yourself to play the part of priest." "No, on my honour." "Your honour!" repeated Emily, satirically. "Do you want to make me laugh? Honour and you have been on distant terms for some time past." "You are severe," said Davis, biting his lip. "Am I ? " she replied. "I feel glad you think so. Now hear me, Mr. Davis ; if we are not instantly released, we will raise such a hornet's nest about both of you, that you shall be in prison before long." Davis laughed. "It is very well to threaten, but you must remember that you are in our power. Think of the concern of your friends at your disappearance." "That reflection only embitters me more against you. " "Perhaps we have behaved rather harshly," Davis went on; "yet you ought to excuse us, when you recollect how dearly we love you." "Love ! " " Yes, indeed. I am dying with love for you, and the Duke of Woodstock is so smitten with Hilda's charms, that he does nothing but rave about her all day." "Truth that ; it is, baw Jove ! " replied the duke. " I'd give a thou. now, for a kiss ; fact, I assuaw you." " We will have nothing to say to you or your love 338 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. either," said Emily. "Take it where it will be thought more of." "Perhaps," said Davis bitterly, "as the weeks slip away, and the long months of your captivity follow one another, you will speak more civilly." "What?" replied Emily ; "do you think that anything \vould induce us to speak civilly, as you call it, to such v illains as you have proved yourselves to be. We are only polite to gentlemen, and not to ruffians who disgrace themselves by persecuting helpless girls." "Your very helplessness ought to be an argument in our favour." " k is not ; and perhaps we are not so utterly defence- less as you imagine. Perhaps Mr. Harkaway is not so far from this spot now," said Emily. She did not hope indeed for any such good luck. ' It was a random shot, fired with the intention of fright- ening her visitors. "Have you any reason to expect Harkaway?" said Davis, turning white. " I shall answer no questions. " "Jove!" exclaimed the duke. " Bettaw be off; shouldn't like to meet that fellah Harkaway here deuced aw disagweeable thing that." " Pray don't go," said Emily, laughing in her sleeve. " I should like to see you face a genuine man." "Think bettaw go, come another time aw," cried the duke. He was restless and uneasy. "I fancied I saw three fellows following us, and I sus- pected they were Dawson, Harvey and Harkaway. One was running after us," remarked Davis. "Awkward, vewy, if they happen to aw spot us." " Well," continued Davis, "we will go, but you may expect us again to-morrow, ladies." " Let's have aw one kiss before we part," said the duke, with an amorous glance in Hilda's direction. " Dash my aw buttons, but one kiss." Hilda had been crouching up in a corner. He advanced to the lovely Jewess, and tried to kiss her. She shrieked loudly, and beat him back with her hands, and struggled furiously. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 239 "Can't do better than follow a good example," re- marked Frank Davis ; "one kiss from your pretty lips, Emily/' Emily, however, was not inclined to gratify him. She ran to the window, threw it open, and cried loudly for assistance. "Help, help!" she screamed. "We shall be mur- dered ! Help, help ! " Davis's arm was round her waist She felt his hot breath on her cheek. "By Heaven I " he cried, "I will have a kiss, if I die for it. " Suddenly a voice sxclaimed "All right, Emily. Hold on a minute. I'ro here, and two more not far off." Emily uttered a cry of joy. Then she fell down in a swoon. The man who had answered her desperate appeal for help was Harkaway. He was coming along at the double to the rescue. When he spoke he was only a few yards off the cottage. CHAPTER XXXVII. STORMING THE COTTAGE. FRANK DAVIS was right when he fancied that he and the Duke of Woodstock were followed as they left Oxford. They drove quickly in a phaeton which they had left in the road. But swiftly as they went, they were not fast enough for Jack. His wind was in excellent order, and he kept the car- riage in sight all the way till it stopped. Then he followed its occupants to the cottage, and waited for Sir Sydney Dawson and Harvey to come up. He would have gone to the cottage at once, had he not feared to do so single-handed. After long consideration, his suspicions pointed to Davis. "Watch him," said Dawson. 240 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. Harvey agreed with his opinion. The consequence was that Davis and the duke were seen to leave the college together, and pursued with the successful result we have indicated. Jack would not have made his presence known unless Emily had appealed for help as she did. Then he could bear the suspense no longer. Dawson and Harvey, not being such good runners, were a little way behind him. But they, too, heard the piteous scream, and rushed on with renewed vigour. The two sons of the labourer to whom the cottage be- longed had just come home from work. As it was such a wet and miserable day they left off earlier than usual. Davis saw the danger in which he was placed. "Mind the girls," he exclaimed to Woodstock, and rushed downstairs. "Barricade the doors back and front," he called to the men. "You shall have five pounds apiece if you will do what I tell you." This was a large sum of money to people in then position. They obeyed his commands with alacrity. The doors were made safe from an attack from without by heavy iron bars. In a short space the wdndows were also secured, and chairs placed against them, backed up with bedding to prevent the entrance of stones or bricks. " Now, my fine fellows, kick it out till you are tired,* said Davis, looking round complacently. He was joined by the duke. "Both aw women fainted. Thought it best to aw leave them," he said. "Never mind them at present," replied Davis. "What's aw this wow ? " " Harkaway and some friends of his hare followed and found us out. He knows Emily is here, because he heard her scream. " " Heawd her scweam. Deuced awkward fix aw," said the duke. "We must stand a siege, that's all Bother that man Harkaway: he's always got the kick on his side." JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 4 1 " Wondaw," said the duke, "if these people have aw got any liquor." "Not they," answered Davis. "They are too poor. Think of our position. How aie we to get out of this scrape? " "Beastly awkward scwape. Think shall cut the aw university, and take a cruise in my aw yacht some- where down the aw Mediterwanean way." " What is a poor beggar like me to do? I wish I had never mixed myself up in the mess," said Davis, biting his nails with vexation. "Your governaw is rich aw." "I know that; but he'll have me back again to that beastly Singapore, which I hate, if I am sent away from Oxford. " "Nevaw mind. Come with me aw we'll enjoy our- selves. Both aw Oxford. What's Oxford aw to us?" said the duke. His further utterance was cut short by a furious attack upon the door. "Pound away," exclaimed Davis. " It can stand all that." Jack had been joined by Sir Sydney Dawson and Harvey. Briefly he explained to them what had taken place. Their blood boiled at the thought of the helpless girls who were probably being insulted by their cowardly abductors. Presently the knocking ceased. " Within there ! " exclaimed Jack "Don't answer him," whispered Davis. " Open the door, or we'll break it in," cried Jack. There was no reply. Again the hammering commenced. It lasted a good ten minutes, when the assailants saw that it was useless to continue the attack in that direction. For some time there was a dead silence. Then the chairs and bedding fell down, and a dark form appeared on the sill. It was Sir Sydney Dawson, armed with a thick stick. Immediately it was seen that they were taken by sur- prise, the two sons of the labourer rushed to the threat- ened point. 16 242 J A CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. Each fell to the ground from a well directed blow oi Sir Sydney. " Who is the next gentleman ? " he exclaimed, blandly. Davis took up a large kettle and threw it at him. It struck him on the chest, and he fell back on the grass, having lost his balance. He was up again, however, before they could close the window. "Thank you," he said. " p erhaps you will oblige me again. " The labourer himself now attacked him with a spade. It appeared to be Dawson's object to divert the atten- tion of those in the cottage, for he contented himself with parrying the blows with the spade and chaffing those inside. "Quite a family party," he said. "Sorry to disturb you. What, you won't be quiet, old gentleman ? Take that, then, in return for the last prod you gave me on the shins, which is somewhat painful. Down again ! Who is the next gentleman ? " The labourer had his head broken by a well-directed blow from Dawson's bludgeon, and he joined his two sons. Davis picked up a poker, and took up the battle, but Dawson, being perched on the window-sill, had the advantage of fighting from a superior height. The contest went on between them for some time, Daxvson receiving a few blows, and Davis at last getting one on the sword arm, which made it fall helpless by his side. With a fierce howl he withdrew, and the poker slipped from his hand. "Thank you. Sold again and got the money. Who is the next gentleman ? " exclaimed Sir Sydney, with his habitual smile. No one answered. " My lord duke," he continued, addressing his grace, who "had taken no part in the combat, " can I oblige you ? " "Aw thank you, not at pwesent. Not a fighting man, you see aw," replied tke duke. A low whistle was heard outside. " Mr. Davis," said Dawson. "What is it ? " asked Davis, sullenly. "I think I have made a very clever diversion for my JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 43 two friends, Mr. Harkaway and Harvey. While I have been amusing myself with the inmates of the garrison, they have, by the aid of Providence and a ladder, rescued the two ladies whom you held in captivity in an upper chamber." "Deuce take them ! " cried Davis, livid with rage. " In two minutes they will be on the road to Ox ford in your carriage, being under the care of Mr. Harvey." " Ten thousand furies ! " almost shrieked Davis. " Do you want to madden me ? " "Pardon me; one minute more. Mr. Harkaway and myself remain behind for the express purpose of setting fire to this cottage in two places, and burning it to the ground." " You dare not." "Time will show," replied Sir Sydney, adding, "when we return to Oxford, your conduct will be laid before the authorities ; proceedings will be taken criminally against you ; and if the Duke of Woodstock does not marry Miss Hilda Manasses, a long term of imprisonment will prob- ably await his amorous grace." " Mawy a Jewess," replied the duke; "that's a neat idea." " It will be a case of the Jewess or the gaol, my lord. While to Mr. Davis no mercy at all will be shown, and if he is wise, he will not return to the college at all." He turned his head to speak to Jack. Then he resumed ' ' Mr. Harkaway informs me that the ladies have started, and that he Is quite prepared with dry straw and matches. I have the honour to hope, gentlemen, that you will enjoy the little fire we intend to light for you." Sir Sydney disappeared from the window. His antagonists were dumfounded. The labourer and his sons were on their legs, and rub- bing their hands with their knuckles, while they looked round them in some confusion. Davis ran upstairs. The rooms were empty. A ladder stood against the window, and he saw that Sir Sydney Dawson had not misled him. While he was engaging their attention below, the birds had flown. 244 JACK HARK A WA YA T OXFORD. "The game's up," he muttered. "I shall go to Lon- don. Oxford is no longer the place for me. As for Wood- stock, he'd better marry the Jewess, or get out of it as he can." Suddenly a smell of fire ascended the stairs, which was followed by a dense smoke. "By Heaven ! " he cried, "they have set the cottage on fire." He was right. Harkaway and Dawson had set light to the vile den in two different places. CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE MATCH AT L O R D ? S. FEELING satisfied that Harkaway and Dawson really had set fire to the cottage, Davis did the most clever thing he could under the circumstances. He got out of the window, and descended by the ladder which had enabled Emily and Hilda to escape. About the same time, those on the ground floor of the cottage, not wishing to be suffocated like rats in a drain, opened the door. They were just in time. The flames had caught the old tumble-down place in two quarters, and were already raging furiously. With a sort of stupor the labourer and his family gazed at the work of devastation. They were losing their all, but they had richly de- served it. Rousing himself at last, the old man went up to Jack, who was standing a short distance off, watching the con- flagration with folded arms. By his side was Sir Sydney. Frank Davis and the Duke of Woodstock, heartily ashamed of themselves, slunk off together. 'It be you who ha' done this," exclaimed the labourer, ' Yes," replied Jack. ' What beest thy naam ? " ' Mr. Harkaway, of St. Aldate's." Til make 'ee paay for it," said the old man, angrily. JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 245 "If you want compensation for what I have done, you should apply to your noble employer, the Duke of Woodstock, who has just left your burning cottage. " "Be'e the Dook of Woodstock?" cried the labourer, in surprise. "Yes. And as he hired you to do a dirty action, for which you ought to be kicked, and are justly punished, he should see you through it, and not let you suffer for the result. You will get no compensation out of me not a rap. " "Hey ! and why noat ? " "I will tell you, my man," continued Jack. "You have detained two young ladies in your house in a most unjustifiable manner. You kept them prisoners against their will, and any magistrate in England would say it served you right if you lose everything you have got." " We be turned out of house and hoam." "All your own fault. See your employers." Jack turned on his heel, and taking Dawson's arm, walked back to Oxford, talking as he went about what had happened. He was furiously enraged against Davis and the duke, but delighted beyond measure at having rescued the girls after all. The flames of the burning cottage lit up the surrounding country for a time. Then all was desolate and dull again. The cottagers were ruined, but, as Jack said, it served them right. In the end they obtained a sum of money from the duke, and were better off than they were before. Emily returned to her situation at Oakley Wood. Hilda went to her father, who was full of gratitude. He told Jack that his fortune was at his disposal. Once he had saved his daughter's life, now he had saved her honour. Frank Davis did not show up again in the university. He vanished, and no one knew where he went to. Threats of exposure and a prosecution induced the Duke of Woodstock to marry the fair Hilda. She did not love him, but knowing she could never be Jack's wife, she made the best of her lot, and became a duchess. This pleased old Manaaae* immensely. 246 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. The duke did not continue to reside in the university. He went abroad with his beautiful bride, and when his friends became reconciled to the match, it was admitted on all hands that he might have done worse. Manasses gave his daughter a hundred thousand pounds, which was a noble fortune, as the Duke of Woodstock's title was not a rich one. "He could aw draw upon the old man," he re- marked, " if he aw evaw became hard up. Something aw to have a rich aw father-in-law." This was a consolation to his grace's mind. Jack congratulated himself upon getting rid of one of his enemies. Hunston was not seen again in Oxford after this affair, in which he played such a base part. It was supposed he had made himself scarce, fearing the law would be put in motion against him. So only Kemp remained behind to be a thorn in Hark- away's side. Davis, however, did not leave England. It was destined that he should still influence Harkaway's career in a most remarkable and romantic manner, as will be related as we proceed. May passed, and the lovely summer time commenced, so favourable to cricket. Jack had not forgotten his school days, and it was found that he was such a good batsman that he was put in the eleven. Bowling was not his strong point, but he was an excellent field, and could throw up against any one at Oxford. Every one looked forward with considerable interest to the great annual match between Oxford and Cambridge at Lord's ground in London. Sir Sydney Dawson, Harvey, and Garden, and a host of other men, obtained leave to go up to town to witness the match. Great expectations were formed respecting the Oxford team, which was a capital eleven. Cambridge had been victorious for two years in succes- sion, and it was hoped that this time Oxford would re- verse the verdict, and score a victory. Mr. Bedington, his wife, and Emily, were all in London, staying at the Langham Hotel, where Jack joined them. JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 247 They had their carriage sent into the ground overnight, and took up their position in the front row about eleven. At twelve the wickets were pitched, and Oxford, having won the toss, they elected to go in. The morning was a lovely one. If anything, the sun was a little too hot ; but that was better than having rain. Vast crowds of spectators thronged the ground, and the applause was great when the Oxford captain sent Hark- away and the Honourable H. Cavendish to the wickets. Play began. In the first over Cavendish was caught off his bat by the wicket-keeper. Loud cheers arose from the Cantabs. No runs for one wicket. Tom Garden went in next. He was not a brilliant player, but cautious and steady. He puzzled the bowling by his defence, and was fond of blocking the ball, and making ones off tips. By this time Jack had mastered the bowling, and began to play. His first hit was a fine cut to leg for four, well run. Then he made several singles, being well assisted by Garden. Two maiden overs followed, but Jack, getting well on to the ball, drove it to the pavilion for six. For fully an hour the two boating men faced one another. It was a tedious piece of leather-hunting for the Can- tabs, as the ball went all over the field. At length Garden was clean bowled, stumps flying, and bails being scattered. " How's that, umpire?" cried the delighted captain of Cambridge. " Out," was the stolid reply. Up went the ball high in the air, amidst the cheers of the spectators. Garden was much applauded, as he had played a very steady innings of twenty-seven. The score with wides and byes, now stood at fifty- nine for two wickets. Harvey, who was also in the eleven, went in next His career was a short but a brilliant one. He made four threes, a six, two fours, and seven singles. Jack's score was rising rapidly, and as Harvey went out, the 100 went up amidst loud cheering. 248 JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. Soon afterwards there was an adjournment for luncheon, and in the pavilion Jack was congratulated upon his play. " Carry your bat out, old man," said Dawson, " and we shall lick them in one innings." " I feel as if I could do anything to-day," replied Jack, confidently. After luncheon he went in again, having Lord Tabley facing him. Tabley was the captain of the eleven, and great things were expected of the two. Nor did they disappoint their admirers. The score rose steadily to 200, of which Jack had con- tributed half. When his three figures were telegraphed the shouting might have been heard in Regent's Park. . " Isn't Jack playing a fine innings ? " remarked Harvey to Mr. Bedington, over the side of whose carriage he was leaning. " Splendid ! Jack's a fine fellow," replied his father. Emily's face flushed at hearing her lover praised. " Have some champagne, Harvey. It won't hurt you this hot day," said Mr. Bedington. " Thank you, sir," replied Dick, a the servant handed him some wine deliciously iced. " Jack will become quite famous in sporting and athletic circles, will he not?" said Emily, "since his name is getting in the papers as a boating and cricketing man of great promise." ' ' I hope it won't make him forget his reading, " remarked Mr. Bedington. " Not it, sir. Jack sticks to his lectures like a leech, and has a coach, too. He'll come out a double first in the school, you see if he doesn't," cried Harvey, who firmly believed his dear old friend to be an Admirable Crichton, capable of doing everything, and doing it well, too. Steadily the play went on. Lord Tabley went out for fifty. Still the score rose. Three hundred were marked, and there were yet two wickets to go down. It seemed as if Jack would carry his bat out after all, and he dearly wished to manage the achievement, which JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 249 is so much prized amongst cricketers, but so very seldom accomplished. Exactly at twenty minutes past four, the last Oxford *Tian was bowled. Jack carried his bat out for 175, and the grand total of {he Oxford eleven was 391. " Let them beat that if they can," shouts Oxford, ex- citedly. "Bravo, Harkaway ! Well played indeed, sir. Hurrah for Harkaway ! " With difficulty Jack kept the crowd off, and he was glad when his sympathising friends were driven back, as the two first Can tabs came in. Jack was " long off." The fielding of Oxford was as good as her batting, and the bowling as true as a die. There was no trifling with it. Twenty-two eyes followed every movement of the ball twenty-two arms and hands were ever on the alert, and as many legs were ready to run like steam engines at the slightest provocation. Up goes the ball, high in the air a perfect skyer. It travels towards Jack, and threatens to go over his head into the crowd beyond. He runs back to stop it, keeping his eyes fixed on the flying disc. He'll miss it," said the crowd. No, he won't." Yes, he will." No, no." By Jove ! he's got it." And again the throng shouts itself hoarse as it says " Bravo, Harkaway! Well caught, by Jove, sir." Jack had sprung clean up a foot or two from the ground, and caught the skyer with his left hand in grand style. Then went out the hope of the Cambridge eleven. The best bat they had, the pride of the eleven, and the hope of the university. Four wickets went down for sixty, and then Jack had another chance of distinguishing himself. A tremendous drive came towards him. He ran up and stopped it. " Well hit, well hit ; run it out," cried the Cambridge men. " Run it out ! " 250 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. Jack saw his chance, and took a shot at the stumps, which, considering the distance, was a dangerous thing to do. Knowing what Jack was capable of, the wicket-keeper returned to the other side, and did not attempt to stop the ball. The stumps were hit, and flew about like pieces of animated wood. In surprise, the batsman stopped and stared half way. He was out. Again the crowd shouts itself hoarse, and the reporters in the press tent make a note for publication of this clever bit of fielding on the part of Harkaway. At six the Cambridge men were all out for the paltry amount of 120. They followed their innings. When the stumps were drawn, they had three wickets down for eighty. Jack was a hero that evening, and went to the play with his friends. The next day the match was a foregone conclusion. By half-past one Cambridge was all out for 210, which gave them a total of 330 ; therefore, they lost the match in one innings, and Oxford had 61 to spare. " If it hadn't been for Harkaway, we might have pulled it off," said the light blues, disconsolately. But it is just such men as Harkaway who win battles and change the fortunes of nations, as well as win boat- races and cricket matches. The playground shows what a man is capable of, and gives promise of what he can, may, and will do in the great world. Jack was a great man in Oxford now, and may fairly be called one of the shining lights and leaders of the university. Soon afterwards the long vacation commenced. He went home, passing his time in reading principally, for he meant to take high honours if he could. A trip to France in August was an agreeable change, and he returned home in time for the partridges. Being a keen sportsman, and a good shot, he made sad havoc with the birds. Harvey spent nearly all the vacation with him, and in JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 25 1 October he visited Sir Sydney Dawson, and helped him to kill the pheasants. It was with genuine pleasure that, when the winter term came, he once more took up his residence in Oxford, which he loved so well. His first visit was to Moses Manasses, to inquire after his daughter. Hilda was at Baden-Baden with her husband, the Duke of Woodstock. She wrote contentedly, and said that her position abroad was a magnificent one ; her pride was gratified, and she found such delight in continental society, that she did not care about having married for position. The duke was kind to her. Manasses went on making money, all of which he declared should be his daughter's. "Woodstock, sir," he remarked, "shall be the richest duke of England when I die." Jack believed he would keep his word. "Ah, sir," added the Jew, " all this monish might have been yours, but you are a gentleman, Mr. Harkaway, and have behaved like one. God bless you, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you. My daughter owes her life and her honour to you. I am fond of mon- ish it is my trade, but should you want any, come to me ; my purse is yours. " "Thank you very much," answered Jack, "but I hope I am all right. I don't bet, I don't gamble, and am not extravagant. " "You don't know, sir, what may happen. Come to me come to old Moses Manasses, of the Corn Market, Oxford, if ever you are pushed into a corner. So help me, Mr. Harkaway, you shall have a cheque. I'll charge you no interest, and if ycu never pay me, I shall never ask you." "You're a good fellow, Manasses," exclaimed Jack. "No, I'm not," replied the Jew; "many would tell you a very different tale, but I'm genuine to you, sir. Let us be friends, Mr. Harkaway ; I've got few enough." "Why?" "Because I'm a Jew, and lend money, that's all." Jack shook him cordially by the hand. "I'll come in sometimes," he said, " and smoke a pipe 252 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. with you. If you're a bad Jew, all I can say is, I've met many a worse Christian." Moses Manasses was delighted at this compliment He repeated his offer ; told Jack that if it had not been for him Hilda would never have been a duchess, and ended by making him accept a hundred-pound note as a present. " Young men never have too much monish, Mr. Hark- away, and you've done me many a good turn. Take it, sir. If you don't I'll 1 don't know what I'll do, but by Abraham it will be something dreadful." Jack smiled, took the note, and went to his rooms. Harvey was there, talking to Monday. Monday had been given some money by Jack, during the "long" to travel about England, Scotland and Ire- land. He came back a great man in his own estimation, for he had seen a great deal. "Oh, I say, Jack," exclaimed Harvey, "there's a card for you. " Jack took it and read "Mr. Gentle May." " I don't know any one of that name," he said. " I thought not ; but the cove said he had a letter of introduction to you." " Is he a freshman ? " "Yes; I'll swear he is, for a more spooney bloke I never saw in my life; he is as soft as putty," replied Harvey. ' ' Where is he now ? " "Said he would come back in half-an-hour. " " All right," replied Jack. " Monday ! " " Sare," replied the black. "Show Mr. Gentle May in when he calls, and order me a broil from the ' Mitre ' at six ; I shan't dine in hall to-day," said Jack, JA Cfr HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 253 CHAPTER XXXIX GENTLE MAY. "So you are clearing off your enemies one by one," remarked Harvey. "Davis is gone, Hunston has sloped, and Kemp doesn't seem in good form." "He is poor," answered Jack. "I heard that his father is only a curate somewhere in Berkshire. He must have dropped a pot over the boat-race." "Old Mo' lent him some coin at the time, and is press- ing him for it." "Is he? Manasses would do anything for me. I'll give Kemp a shove up behind when I see the Jew," said Jack. "I would he deserves a lift; but I don't think you have much to fear from Kemp now Davis is gone. Davis used to pay Kemp." " I know, but Davis may pull the strings from a dis- tance. From what I know of Davis's character I should say he was not a man to give up a hatred easily, and he will be all the more vindictive towards me now ; besides he will have nothing else to do but to think how he can badger me." "Davis has a rich father it's nice to have a father," said Harvey, with a laugh ; "and he will be all right for coin in London." " Well, don't talk about the beast," replied Jack impa- tiently. "I don't want to think of him; let him slide. He may be well off or not ; I don't care, so long as he don't worry me. As for Kemp, if he has to leave, his only resource would be skittle sharping." "Or he might turn billiard-marker, " suggested Harvey. Jack laughed. " His game would be plunder in some shape or an- other," he said ; adding, "there is someone at the door Mr. May perhaps. Wonder what sort of a pup he is ? " It was Mr. Gentle May, who, preceded by Monday, entered the room with a girl-like simper and an awkward bow. 54 J A CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. He was about the average height, had a dark com- plexion, which contrasted strangely with lightish hair of a curling tendency, parted in the middle ; his moustache was fair; whiskers and beard he had none. About his mouth there was a smile, half imbecile, half cunning, and his manner was confused and shy. " Have I the pleasure," he said, " of addressing Mr. Harkaway of St. Aldate's ? " " That's my name," replied Jack, "but I am engaged with a friend. In what way can I serve you ? " "Ah," replied Mr. May, "dear mamma said I should find Oxford very practical, and that the men I mean the gentlemen there, would soon make a man of me. I am recalled to myself. Thank you, Mr. Harkaway, for reminding me that at last my frail bark is launched upon the waters of the wide, wide world. Ma said " "Will you come to the point, sir?" exclaimed Jack. "Ah, yes, certainly. Ma always said I was so dis- cursive. You know, Mr. Harkaway, or rather you do not know that I have eleven sisters ; I am the only boy in the family, and they have all made a great pet of me." " Glad to hear it. Pity you left home, isn't it? "said Jack. "No ; I want to be a man, and, as I have never been to school, I am rather soft, ma says." " Your mother is right for once in her life, although I have not the honour of the lady's acquaintance," answered Jack impatiently. "Oh, ma always is right," answered Gentle May seri- ously; "she and my eldest sister, Robertina we call her Bobby, Mr. Harkaway taught me all I know, with the exception of the music, my second sister, Thomasina we call her Tommy, Mr. Harkaway made me learn ; and I can do Latin and Greek, and French and " "Come and see me again to-morrow, will you ? " said Jack. " You've been here half-an-hour ; you shall have the same amount of time each day till the end of the week, and by that time, if you have not got to your busi- ness, I shall turn you up." "Certainly; very kind of you, Mr. Harkaway. Good- day, to-morrow I will be with you betimes. Ma says I'm so slow, and Bobby's always scolding me for not col- lecting my ideas," said Mr. Gentle May. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD, 255 " Monday ! " shouted Jack, "the door." Monday let the visitor out, and Jack and Harvey began to laugh. ' ' That's a queer character, if you like, " said Jack. " I can't believe any man could be such an ass at his age fancy his talking about his ma and his sisters. I think he's kidding." "What?" said Jack. " Humbugging, putting on." "Why should he?" " You will know what brings him to you to-morrow." " Yes ; I wish I hadn't started him now, my curiosity is excited. Here comes my humble dinner; have a bit ?" "Don't mind if I do. Never can settle down at Oxford the first clay," answered Harvey. "You know you are welcome, Dick," said Jack, good- naturedly. " If it was my last crust, I'd share it with you. " " And you know, Jack, that I'd sell my boots and go barefoot, if it would do you any good," answered Harvey. "Of course you would, and I'd ask you to do it in a moment if there was necessity for it, dear boy, but I'm flush. Old Manasses gave me a hundred pounds, and if you will have half " Harvey hesitated. " I won't ask you ; I'll make you have it. -Take it, Dick ; it will pay for lots of little things you want. What ! you won't ? I shall have to slip into you, sir, if you don't do what you are told," he added. Harvey took the money. The tears came into his eyes. "If I didn't like you so much as I do, Jack," he ex- claimed, " I'd see you at Pisang before I'd touch a half- penny piece of it." "Shut up, do," said Jack, looking as if it was the first time he had done a kind thing in his life. "All right. I'll have my revenge the first time I get half a chance," said Harvey laughing. Then they had a nice little dinner, and a bottle of claret best Lafitte and talked together as only old friends who love one another with all their hearts can talk. As Jack was coming out of chapel the next day, he met his visitor of the preceding afternoon, who, with the same 256 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. civility, asked him how he was, and accompanied him to his rooms. Jack volunteered to take his new friend to lectures, which he did. When they were over, May proposed to walk through the town. Passing an hotel, Jack proposed a glass of beer. "What would ma say," answered Gentle May, "if she only knew I drank beer before dinner? " "Better telegraph home and ask her permission," re- plied Jack. "No. I mean to be gay," said May. "I'm not at home now, and I shall do as you all do up here." They strolled into a billiard-room which was empty. Jack began to knock the balls about. "Do you play ? " he asked. "A little. I know bagatelle. I can beat my sisters at that Let us play for something ; I have plenty of money. " "No. I don't care about that not with you, at least," answered Jack. "We will play five games. You give me twenty out of fifty. If you beat me three times, you shall have my new horse, which ma gave me, and if I beat you, you shall pay me the value of the horse." ' ' All right, " said Jack. ' ' That seems fair. ' ' Will you break?" " Yes," replied Gentle May. He took the spot ball and made a miss in baulk ; Jack followed, and the game proceeded evenly until Jack had a lucky break, which made them thirty all. Then May v/ent ahead, and won the game easily. " One to you,'' said Jack. " It doesn't look like my winning the horse." " Oh, it's only my flukes. See what luck I had," re- plied Gentle May. Jack won the second game, but May easily beat him in the third and fourth. "That's three to me, "he cried. "What would ma say if she knew I had such luck ? " " What do you value your horse at ? " said Jack, biting his lips with vexation. " We forgot to settle that" " Oh, he is a very good horse, but I will say forty pounds to you." JA CK HA RKA WA Y AT OXFORD. 257 Jack took out of his pocket the notes Moses Manasses had given him, and with something like a groan, paid the money. To be beaten in such an easy way by a man like Gentle May was a disgrace. He had calculated upon an easy victory ; in which case he would not have accepted the horse. May pocketed the money, and said " Do you want a horse, Mr. Harkaway ? " "As it happens, I do," replied Jack. " A little exer- cise on horseback would do me good." " If you give me twenty pounds more, you shall have mine. Pay me when you like. Your note of hand will do. " Jack thought he spoke in a very business-like sort of manner. " Let's go and see it," he said. " Come with me. It is at the stables, " replied May, adding " Oh ! what would ma say if she knew I was going to sell the fiery steed she gave me ? It is fiery, but so easily managed by a good rider." They went to the stables, and Jack though Gentle May knew his way very well about Oxford for a freshman, as he went direct to the street without asking his way. The horse was a fine handsome chestnut, and seemed cheap at sixty pounds. A groom touched his hat to Jack, who recognised him as a man who had attended to Sir Sydney Dawson's eteeple-chaser, and to whom he had given something after winning the race. " Going to buy a 'orse, Mr. 'Arkaway, sir ? " said the groom, whose name was Stubbles. " Thinking of it," replied Jack. Stubbles beckoned him on one side. " Reg'lar wicious brute, that, sir," he said. " Crib- biter, kicker, bolter ; a perfect wretch, sir, all up his darned back. Don't you have no truck with him." " Is he sound?" " Sound as a roach, sir, and right as the mail. He's got wind and bottom enough to win a Darby. That ain't what I'm talking of ; it's 'is beastly temper, sir, Mr. 'Ark- away, sir." " Well, I'm not a chicken, Stubbles ; I can ride a little bit," replied Jack, with a smile. 258 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. " In course you can,^ir. There hain't your match in Hoxford ; no, nor in the shire, for that matter. Still. I wouldn't part my coin for a hugly-tempered helephant like that. More like a 'potamus, he is, for tricks and wice, than a decent bit of 'orseflesh." This description of the horse put Jack on his mettle. He wanted a mettlesome leader for a new tandem he was s;oing to drive, and he determined to have this horse more out of bravado than anything else. Besides he had paid forty pounds, which he had fairly lost at billiards, therefore, if he gave another twenty, he would have his money's worth in the form of a good horse. ' ' Where did the horse come from ? " he asked. " It is a London 'orse, sir, " answered Stubbles. ' ' Least- ways I think so, because it belonged to Mr. Davis, of St. Aldate's who had it sent up here just afore he left." " Davis ? " repeated Jack. "Yes, sir, Mr. 'Arkaway, sir; but Mr. May he showed us a receipt from Mr. Davis for the 'orse, so we suspect he bought it of him." Jack thought it very odd, and going back to Gentle May, exclaimed " Do you know Mr. Frank Davis who was up here last term ? " " No," replied May, "not in the least Stay," he added. " That is the gentleman ma's agent bought the horse from. I remember now ; I have the receipt from a Mr. F. Davis." " Oh, that is it," said Jack. " Well, I'll buy him." " He is yours. I thought him too mettlesome for me, and am glad to get rid of him. A park-hack is more my style. When I go out riding, the vulgar little boys about shout out 'Get inside, and pull the blinds down!' It makes me so wild, Mr. Harkaway, to be chaffed before ma and Bobby and Thomasina." He turned away as Jack gave some instruction to the groom, and muttered to himself "If the brute doesn't break his neck, it isn't my fault. Deuce take him ! " Jack did not hear this, or his suspicions respecting Mr. Gentle May would have been speedily aroused. As it was, bethought him a strange mixture of cunning and simplicity. JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 259 Not a bad fellow at heart, but half rogue, half flat ; in fact, a man who would develop in time, and become clever. " He's been brought up at home with a lot of sisters," thought Jack, "and that is sure to spoil the best man that ever was born. A man can't learn any good from a parcel of girls. " They walked home together, and May invited him to tea in his room, which, oddly enough, was the very same that Davis used to occupy. The same furniture remained in it, and Jack could not help fancying that he was once more friendly with Davis. When he asked Mr. May how he became possessed of the furniture, he told him that his "ma's " agent in Oxford had bought the furniture from a gentleman who had left, but he did not know his name. Jack thought it was very funny that May should buy Davis's horse, have Davis's room and even his furniture. But he did not say anything. May showed him great hospitality, tried to make him- self agreeable, was very funny in his simple manner, and Jack soon dismissed from his mind the suspicion that he could in any way be connected with his late enemy, Davis. CHAPTER XL A STRANGE ARRIVAL AT OXFORD. THE next day Harvey gave Jack a look up after break- fast, and said "Are you going to lectures this morning? " "No, I mean to cut the shop to-day," replied Jack ; "fact is, I've bought a horse, and May and I are going out riding. "You seem to be wrapped up in that ass," said Harvey. "The beggar sticks to me so, and I don't see any harm in him. Come with us. " "I don't mind, though I would rather Mr. May was not one of the party. I went to his rooms last night, after you, but you had left, and what do you think I saw on the table ? " 260 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. "Wine, I suppose," said Jack. "No, I didn't ; it was a wig." "A what?" "A wig thing, exactly like his own head of hair. He scrambled it up and put it in his pocket. What on earth does he want a wig for?" " By Jove !" said Jack, "that's funny. He's a queer fish altogether." "So I think, and the less you have to do with him the better. What horse is this you are going to try ? " "One I bought from May." "Already ! He's got an eye to business," replied Harvey. " Don't bully the man. You are jealous, Dick." "No, I'm not, but I don't like him. I can't put up with him at all." " What harm can a fool like that do me ? Shut up." "I'll meet you at the stables," replied Harvey. In ten minutes they were all mounted. The groom whispered to Jack "Don't touch him with the spur, sir. He can't abear it, and will bolt like ninepins." "All right," answered Jack. They took the Abingdon Road, and chatted pleasantly as they went along. After going a few miles, Gentle May exclaimed "How do you like the horse, Mr. Harkaway ? Put him through his paces. You haven't tried him at a fence yet." There was a five-barred gate on one side leading into some meadows. Forgetful of the groom's advice, Jack drove the spurs in the animal's side and put him at the gate. For a moment the horse reared dangerously, and, had not Jack struck him with the whip between the ears, he would have fallen back on him and crushed him in the road. Then he took the bit between his teeth, rose at the gate, cleared it, and was off like the wind. " Case of bolt," said Harvey. He was right. Jack found he had no control over him, and sticking his knees well in, gave him his head and let him go. JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 261 Away he went, over ditches and hedges, across meadows and ploughed fields, without showing any symptoms of distress. At length the river was in front of them. "I'll make him swim it," said Jack, between his teeth. ' ' Perhaps that will cool his courage. " Accordingly, he whipped and spurred the infuriated animal again, and put him straight at the river, which was swollen by recent rain. Into the angry torrent he plunged, breasting the current. Slipping his feet out of the stirrups, Jack got off the saddle and swam to the opposite shore. Here he awaited the arrival of the horse. The animal was carried some distance by the stream, but landed at last, standing, shivering and trembling, on the bank. All the steam was out of him now. Jack mounted him again and found him as docile as a lamb. Arriving at Oxford before May or Harvey, he changed his wet things, and by the time he was comfortably smoking a cigar, they came in. "Thank God, you are not hurt," said Harvey. "I followed you a little way, but you soon distanced me." " How did you manage him ? " asked May. " Oh, in my usual way. I'm not spilt easily," answered Jack, coldly. "It's time to go down to Mole's and coach," remarked Harvey. "Is it? I'll go with you if Mr. May will excuse me," replied Jack. May, seeing he was not wanted, made profuse apolo- gies for the misconduct of the horse, for which he hoped he should not be held answerable, and retired. "Shunted him," said Jack. "Good sort of shunt, too," replied Harvey. "That horse was not safe to ride ; he's a perfect fiend. " Jack told him how he had conquered him, and they walked down to Mr. Mole's, where at two o'clock, the men who read with him, assembled. 262 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. CHAPTER XLI. AN ARRIVAL FROM LIMBL IN the street were a black woman and two little black children, who, while the woman beat a tambourine and sang a wild sort of song, went round and collected the pennies of the benevolent. "Dash my wig!" said Jack, "I ought to know that language." " It's Malay, I'll swear," replied Harvey ; " they used to sing it in Limbi and Pisang, too." "Of course. Hold on a minute; we will hear what she has to say," said Harvey. The woman was dressed in a dirty cotton print, hang-, ing round her in loose folds, her black hair floated in the breeze, and she seemed to be plunged in the depths of poverty. Her song, which was in blank verse, was as follows- "Once I was a princess in my dear native plains and all respected me, until a white man came from across the sea and made me his wife. Ah, me ! Ay di me ; why was I born ? "The white man was a cruel deceiver, and betrayed the trust that I placed in him. Woe to me, for I am undone. "He had two wives, and each bore him a child. Ay di me, why was I born ? "The white man sailed away in a great ship to the distant shore, whither I have followed him. Woe to me. " His other wife is dead of grief, but I have brought with me her child and my own, and I have vowed to find him. Ah ! me, why did I not die also ? " Oh ! white man, oh ! my husband, why did you leave me to pine alone ? "Oh! where are you now? Will no kind stranger lead the poor wife to her husband, that he may see his children ? "Ah, me ! ay di me ; why was I born ? " "Jack," exclaimed Harvey, excitedly, "that's Am- bon ia." "Just what I was thinking," answered Jack. JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 263 "It's Mole's wife; the woman he married in Limbi. She says Alfura is dead, and she has managed to come over here with the kids. What a lark ! " " I'm awfully glad we spotted her; now we'll have a spree," said Jack. "Won't Mole tear his hair? If we hadn't seen her, she might have gone wandering about the country and have missed him. I will speak to her." Jack went close to the woman. " Ambonia," he said. She started and turned around. " Who calls me by my name ? " she asked. "An old friend; one whom you knew in Limbi. Do you not recognise me ? I will lead you to your husband.' Ambonia uttered a shriek of joy. She seized Jack's hand and kissed it, saying- "Tears have blinded my eyes, and much hunger coupled with sleepless nights, has weakened my brain, or I should have known the Tuan Biza of the white man. Welcome Tuan Harkaway, you are my saviour." In her great delight she would have gone down on her knees in the street, but Jack restrained her. "Wait here," he said, "while I go into the house on the left. I will leave the door open. When I call Am- bonia, through the window, do you enter, leading a child by each hand." She nodded her head. "I understand," she replied ; "then I shall see my husband. " "I'll show Mole his wife in ten minutes," answered Jack. "Go on with your performance." He entered Mr. Mole's house with Harvey, and in the large dining-room, which was turned into a study, several men of different colleges had assembled. They were smoking, talking, asking questions, making notes, lounging about, standing up, and taking things very easy. It was a part of Mole's system that they should do so. Oxford men were not schoolboys, he said, and should be treated as rational beings. They paid him to teach them, which he did, and if they did not have their money's worth, it was not his fault. You could bring a horse to the water, but twenty men could not make him drink. 2 64 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. So it was with learning. If a man had not the aptitude or inclination to acquire knowledge, it could not be forced into him. Mr. Mole was standing near the fireplace, with dress- ing-gown and slippers on ; a cap with a tassel covered his head, and he smoked a cigarette. "Morning, sir," said Jack; "what are we cramming to-day ? '' "It's a general disquisition, Harkaway, upon the man- ners and customs of the Ancient inhabitants of Greece. I maintain that we are moie moral as a nation than the Greeks were." "I am prepared to dispute that point, sir," said Jack. "Very good. I will hear you first, and then I will prove my case by historical illustrations," answered Mole ; adding, "if gentlemen would kindly talk a little less at the lower end of the room, it would materially increase our comfort up here. " There was a lull in the conversation. "We don't hear, sir," said Jack, "of men marrying two wives, and deserting them under the democracy of Athens. " Mr. Mole paled. " Nor is such a thing allowed under Victoria," he re- plied. "Polygamy, which, as you are aware, is a union with more wives than one, is an offence to this country, and a man who deserts his wife and children is justly stigmatised as a villain who is unfit to mingle as a har- monious atom in the vast total of modern society." More than one impressionable freshman made a note of this lovely language in his book, hoping he could re- member such an eloquent remark when he went into the schools. "If," continued Mr. Mole, "you can urge nothing more than that, it will be best for you, Harkaway, to subside. You thrust yourself prominently forward, and you must now pay the penalty of your rashness, by sink- ing into comparative insignificance. Will any other gentleman combat my proposition, that the boasted civil- isation of the ancient Greeks must yield the palm to modern Europe, for virtue, industry, and thrift?" Jack slipped away to the window, and called Ambonia. The lady in question was anxiously awaiting the signal. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 265 Leading a dusky child by each hand, she rushed up the steps, crossed the hall, and seeing the dining-room door open, peeped in. The sight of Jack reassured her. She entered, and giving a furious knock upon her tam- bourine with her knuckles, looked around her. The husband of her affections, the Mole of her heart, dearly beloved chief of the pale-faces, was in front of her. She knew him in spite of dressing-gown, smoking-cap and slippers. What disguise could hide from her hawk-like gaze the tender object of her affection ? With a bound like that of a deer, she sprang upon him, and with a hysterical sob, threw herself upon his breast. The gentlemen who were reading with Mr. Mole were astonished beyond measure. What could this strange scene mean ? " Gentlemen," said Jack, " there is a practical illustra- tion of my argument." "What do you mean ? " asked an Oriel man. " In that lady you behold at one and the same time, a princess and a deserted wife." " Who's wife? " continued the Oriel man. " Mr. Mole's. He married two ; one is dead, and by a strange fatality the surviving one has followed him to England has encountered him at Oxford. Yes, gentle- men, it is his deserted wife." Jack put his handkerchief to his eyes. "I am overcome by my feelings," he went on. weep. Who could restrain his tears when he thinks of man's perfidy, and looks upon his helpless offspring? Harvey, put the kids on the table." Harvey immediately did so. "Behold the little cherubs, gentlemen," Jack contin- ued. " What if they resemble sags of boot I mean bags of soot? Does the colour of a child's skin release the parent from his responsibility? Because a woman is black, is she to be foully betrayed and abandoned? Never, gentlemen, will I believe so ill of Oxford as to credit for a moment that you will support such an abom- inable doctrine." Here Jack's eloquence was cut short by an inkstand which struck him on the chest, and knocked him off the chair from which he had been spouting. 266 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. A deluge of ink covered his face, his shirt, his hands. It was Mr. Mole, who, having freed himself from Ambonia's frantic embrace, had, in his rising passion at Jack's flood of eloquence, tried to put a stop to it. "That's a hot un for me," muttered Jack, spitting out a mouthful of ink. " Wonder what they make ink of? It don't taste nice by any manner of means," he added. Loud cheers had followed Jack's address, and the ut- most confusion prevailed. Every one began to talk at once. The chaff directed against Mr. Mole was fast and furious. In a moment the unhappy professor saw that his career at Oxford was cut short by this untimely episode. Cursing Ambonia in his heart, but afraid to offend her, his face was the picture of despair. Never could he survive the ridicule which the native wit and the inventive genius of Oxford would heap upon him. He might have lived down the mistake of the talking monkey, and he had already tided over the ancient stone with the Runic inscription of Drun. Kasaf. Iddler. But Ambonia's presence in Oxford was the last straw which was to break the camel's back. CHAPTER XLIL MR. MOLE TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO SCIENCE. FOR once in his life Mr. Mole was firm. Calling Jack to his side, he said " Harkaway, will you do me a favour? " " It depends upon what it is, sir," replied Jack. "Bring those little fiends upstairs, one under each arm. " "What for?" "I must take Ambonia away. You have been very indiscreet. Why did you say what you did to all my pupils here ? " "Only told the truth, sir, "said Jack. "Is there any harm in that ? Was it a virtue in Athens to tell falsehoods ? " "Tush ! tush ! " said Mr. Mole. JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 267 " What language is that, sir? " "Tush is English, and means what the military would call cease firing; that is, be quiet, for goodness' sake." Ambonia came up to them and began to talk loudly in her own language, while Mr. Mole, endeavouring to pacify her, drew her towards the door, and led her up- stairs. He was the owner of the whole house. His housekeeper was an aged lady by the name of Bimms. Mrs. Bimms was one of those dear creatures who have had one husband, and want another. Her first unfortunate was a tradesman, who at his death left her very poorly off. Two children had blessed her union with commerce, but they were out in the world gaining their own living. When Mrs. Bimms came to take charge of Mr. Mole's establishment, she fixed her eye upon such an eligible bachelor. She even went so far as to hope that he might marry her some day. Jack called it a swivel eye, and he did so advisedly, for Mrs. Bimms had an abnormal squint, and seemed always looking round the corner. This wonderful eye could look any way, and in any direction. She was in the kitchen preparing a snug little dinner, when Ambonia stopped before the house. It had entered into her calculations that she might be asked to partake of the repast. When she saw Ambonia enter Mr. Mole's establish- ment, she was much surprised, and her astonishment increased when she saw her master leading the dark lady up the staircase. " He must be mad," she said to herself. Only the day before she had her fortune told by a local soothsayer, who informed her in return for the payment of one shilling, that she would be married again, and that her second husband would be a learned man. This prediction clearly pointed to Mr. Mole. But as the prophecy was dictated by the fortune-teller's knowledge of Mrs. Bimms's occupation, there was nothing very wonderful in it after alL 268 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. Mrs. Bimms rushed up the stairs after Mr. Mole and the dark lady, and caught them on the landing. "What is the meaning of this, sir?" she asked, breath- less with indignation, "Oh, it is you, Mrs. Bimms," replied Mr. Mole. "This lady is a princess in her own country I have been abroad as you know." " I have heard so, sir," replied the housekeeper coldly. ' ' Well, the fact is we are old friends, and the princess will stay here with her children. " Mrs. Bimms gave a faint scream. "I didn't think you'd you'd ha' done it, sir," she cried. "You such a respectable gentleman too." "You must do as I tell you; go and get some tea ready." " Not me, sir. No, I'm an honest Englishwoman, and I ain't a-going to wait on no foreign hussies." "I say you must." "And I say I won't. There, that's flat flat as a iron," replied Mrs. Bimms, crossing her arms defiantly. "What does she say, my cherished one?" asked Ambonia, looking up in Mr. Mole's face caressingly. " Nothing ; it's all right/' returned the professor, in the Malay dialect. " The children shal. 1 come up directly, and I will get you some refreshments. Go into my bed- room and make yourself comfortable. I will get rid of my pupils and rejoin you." Ambonia went into the handsomely-furnished room, and was enraptured with the beauty of everything. Shutting the door Mr. Mole said sternly to Mrs. Bimms " Out of my house, if you please." "Oh," replied Mrs. Bimms, with a sarcastic smile, "if it's a question between black and white, I'm willing to quit. " " Be off," said Mr. Mole angrily. "I will be obeyed in my own house," "Oh, you poor, weak, silly creature," returned Mrs. Bimms. " I should be ashamed to own you as a master. Fond of a black woman ? Well, I never." She began to laugh heartily. "Ha, ha, ha!" she exclaimed. "Like 'em black he does. Ha, ha, ha ! " JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 269 " Fiend ! " answered Mr. Mole. " Let me pass." He pushed rudely by her, and re-entered the lecture- room. During his absence Jack and some other men had been having some fun with the children, who were crying bitterly. Each had a smoking-cap on, and they had been gro- tesquely marked with chalk about the hands, face, and feet. This had the effect of burnt cork on a white person. "What's the meaning of this?" exclaimed Mr. Mole, aghast. " Piebald kids, sir," replied Jack. " Make their fortune in a caravan at a fair." "Do you want to distract me?" answered the pro- fessor, plunging his hand wildly into his hair. " Not more than usual, sir," said Jack. "I shall leave the university." " Don't do that," said a man from New ; "you'd be a loss." "Gentlemen," exclaimed Mr. Mole, "unhappy cir- cumstances, over which I have no control, will compel me to close my classes. Your subscriptions shall not be payable. Leave me, if you please, until happier times arise." The men quietly left the house, telling him not to worry himself, but to put on a white wife to counter- balance the influence of the black one. Only Jack and Harvey remained. "Harkaway," said Mr. Mole solemnly, "I am a disgraced and ruined man. You have exposed me. It is to you I owe my shame." "Marriage, sir, has its obligations," answered Jack. " Granted, but why should you expose me?" "I felt for Ambonia," "For that black " "Don't call names, sir," interrupted Jack. "She was the wife of your bosom." ' ' In Limbi yes. " " What is the difference ? " "Over in this country one goes in for colour, and white is the fashion," answered Mr. Mole, who in the midst of his grief could not repress a smile. 270 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. " Did she not bear you a child? Isn't Alfura dead? and you have not shed a tear to her memory." "Perish Ambonia, as Alfura perished," replied Mr. Mole. " lam a ruined man. How can I show my face again in the university of Oxford ? " " I am in an awful stew, What the dickens can I do, When I'm hunted from the U- Diversity of Oxford?" sang Jack. " Harkaway, do you want to madden me?" exclaimed Mr. Mole. "Shouldn't mind doing it for a change, sir," replied Jack. ' ' What do you think of the ancient Athenians now, sir? Very moral people, weren't they? " Mr. Mole seized a pipe, filled and lighted it. He then went to a cupboard, took out a bottle of brandy and drank nearly a tumbler full. " Give us a swig, sir," said Harvey. "You want none. You have not the agitated mind with which I am tormented," answered Mr. Mole. "Going to get tight, sir?" asked Jack. Mr. Mole puffed away at his pipe in silence. "If you don't watch it, sir, you'll have Ambonia down after you," said Harvey. The children, who were still on the table, began to cry. " Music ! " exclaimed Jack. "Strangle the brutes," said Mr. Mole. "Oh, if any- body would put them in the water-butt." While this conversation was taking place down stairs, a scene was occurring at the upper parl of the house. Mrs. Bimms no sooner saw Mr. Mole descend the stair- case than she went into the bedroom. "You ugly black thing, you ! " she exclaimed, shaking her fist Ambonia did not understand her, but she guessed from her manner that she was saying something insulting. "Who you be ? " she asked in the little English she had picked up. " Your betters any way ; I ain't black, nor I don't have to run after gentlemen who don't want me." "Get out this," said Ambonia, angrily. JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 27 1 "I'll see you further first," replied Mrs. Bimms, reso- lutely. She was a firmly-built woman of five-and forty, well nourished upon stout brandy, and her eyes winked wick- edly. It was evident that she meant mischief. A tall chimney-pot hat of Mr. Mole's was hanging on a Peg. Taking it down with the quickness of lightning, Ambonia seized Mrs. Bimms by the arms, pressed them behind her back, and while in a helpless condition, pushed the hat over her face until her head was enclosed in it, and the brim rested on her neck "There! " she said, kicking her, and still holding her a/ms. "Take you that and that. You wantee my husband. Me givee you something, you white ugly fat woman." Tearing a piece off the skirt of the housekeeper's dress, she tied her hands behind her back. Dismal moans came from beneath the hat. Ambonia seized Mrs. Bimms's back hair. It came off, being only a chignon. " Ha ! she not wear own hair," cried Ambonia. " Me beatee white woman beast." She pushed her down stairs, and with pleasure saw her fall down the first flight, then she returned to the bed- room, and began to arrange her hair in a fascinating man- ner before the glass in expectation of Mr. Mole's speedy return. Jack had in the meantime pacified the black children by giving them a penny each. "Dance, you little demons, dance," he cried, in their own language. They began to move about, first on one leg and then on the other. " Don't the little Moles do it well?" said Harvey. " Peace, Harvey, peace ', " exclaimed Mr. Mole. " My reason is tottering." At this moment Mrs. Bimms groped her way into the room. At the strange spectacle of a female, her head hidden in a man's hat, Mr. Mole sprang from his seat. " Bless us and save us ? what is it ? " he exclaimed. Jack ran to her, and cut the string which bound her arms. 2 7 2 JA CK HARK A IV AY AT OXFORD. The housekeeper removed the hat with difficulty and gasped for breath. "I'll have her life ! " she cried. ' ' She did it that black think he calls the princess." "Don't, my dear Mrs. Bimms ; forbear!" cried the wretched Mole. "I'll be the death of her. Yes, I will, if I'm hanged for it." "Won't something less content you?" said Jack. "Let her down easy ; have her kids." " Ha ! " cried Mrs. Bimms, as her eyes lighted upon the children. She seized one under each arm, and ran frantically away. Awful yells arose. "Stop her!" exclaimed Mr. Mole. "For the love of Heaven stop her. The woman will murder them." Jack, Harvey and Mr. Mole followed her as speedily as possible. She took the direction of the back yard. When they overtook her, she was standing compla- cently before the water-butt. " Where are my helpless infants ?'' demanded Mr. Mole. There was no reply. "Woman, I demand my children,' he cried, shaking her, fearful of the consequences of the dreadful crime. "Look in the water-butt," replied Mrs. Bimms. In an instant Jack and Mr. Mole laid hold of the huge tub, and overturned it. The water rolled out. So did the little half-drowned Moles. They were not dead. The only effects of this immersion was to wash off the chalk with which Mr. Mole's pupils had ornamented them. Taking them up tenderly, Mole turned to go up stairs with them to their mother. " Harkaway," he said, "guard that fury." He pointed to his housekeeper. 4 ' I dismiss her, " he added. ' ' She can call for her wages in the morning. Put her out." ' "Now then, old girl," said Jack, as Mr. Mole disap- peared with the children, " you've got to step it." "What ! " exclaimed Mrs. Bimms. "Your name's Walker. Out of this." JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 273 "I ain't a-going." "Aren't you? We'll see about that," replied Jack. "Off you go. Quick step ; march. One at a time is quite enough for Mr. Mole. Walk." Mrs. Bimms found herself being gently put out of the yard by the tradesmen's entrance. When she was in the street, she kicked at the door. Then she screamed, and eventually called " Police ! " But thinking better of it, she went to her friends, who did not live far off, and made them acquainted with her grievances. The little Moles were put to bed, and had muffins and tea given them. They asked for rice and sugar, which they had. Then they cried because they had eaten too much, and their mother slapped them after which they cried them- selves to sleep. Ambonia and Mr. Mole descended to the drawing-room, where Jack and Harvey were smoking cigars and drink- ing beer. Ambonia went up to Jack and kissed him, whereupon he kissed her back again. "I say, Harkaway, I can't allow that," exclaimed Mr. Mole. "It's only a compliment, sir," answered Jack ; "and now what are you going to do?" "That is more than I know," replied Mr. Mole, sadly. Ambonia came and sat on his knee, patting his face and laughing merrily as she told him in her own language that she had forgiven him for deserting her, and was so pleased to see him again. She had come over to England in a merchant vessel, her friends supplying her with money. But when she arrived in London, she could not find him as she had expected, and soon her money was gone. When she was reduced to destitution she determined to go all over the country with the children, until she found him Fortune had crowned her labours with success. Ambonia was happy, Mr. Mole was not. That made all the difference. When Jack saw her petting Mr. Mole he exclaimed "Now the spooning is going to begin, I'd better cut it. 16 274 JACK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. See you again soon, sir. Beg to congratulate you on your good luck. " "Good-night, Harkaway," said Mr. Mole. "I wish you the same luck you have bestowed upon me. Good- bye ; perhaps for ever." The young men took their leave and went back to Jack's rooms at St Aldate's, where they had some coffee and sat down to chat. "Will Mole do anything desperate, do you think?" asked Harvey. "Not he," replied Jack. "Mole isn't a fool." "But this affair will smash him up. It will be all over Oxford to-morrow, and he won't keep any pupils." " He's got the money for which he sold his tea-garden in China," said Jack, "and that will keep .him." "Wasn't it too bad of you to expose him ? " "Not a bit; he shouldn't do such things. If a man will marry two wives, he must take the consequences." "The consequences in his case are niggers." Jack laughed, and some other men coming in, the matter was not further talked about. Two days passed. Then Jack went to Mr. Mole's house, and found it shut up. He was told that Mr. Mole had gone a little way into the country to live. It was quite a fortnight before Jack got any definite information respecting Mr. Mole. Then it came from Sir Sydney Dawson, who had been riding in the country. Sir Sydney said he had seen Mole sitting in front of a rustic cottage, with two black children running about, and Ambonia making him brandy and soda. " What's his game ? " asked Jack. "Science, I think?" replied Sir Sydney. "Because he told me he was making a balloon." "What for?" "That's just what I asked him, and he replied that he wanted to get away from this country. His face was awfully scratched, and his right hand was bound up with rags." "He's been fighting with Ambonia. I knew how it would be," said Jack. "But the balloon licks me." JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 75 " He means to sail away and cut the connection." "Shouldn't wonder," replied Jack. "Where will he sail to ? " "That depends upon circumstances." He's got a large tent in which the balloon apparatus is being fixed. I saw the preparations, and the car will be grand. " " Does Ambonia suspect anything? " "Not she. Her nature is very simple," replied Sir Sydney, "from what I saw of her." "Fancy Mole going in for science. Wonder if he would give a fellow a lift in his balloon." "Let's ask him. My duns are worrying me awfully, and I shouldn't mind a journey somewhere," answered Sir Sydney. " When will it be ready? " "Oh, not for months," he said. "It's a very swell affair, and will cost a lot building, and take time. ' " I'll keep my eye upon him. Poor old Mole ! he was always in trouble while he knew me," said Jack. "If that is the case he would cut your acquaintance if he is wise. " "Can't do it, dear boy," answered Jack. "I have a power of persuasion, which neither Moles nor baronets can resist." "Don't you try it on with me, or I will shunt you in an hour," replied Sir Sydney Dawson, smiling. Monday knocked at the door. " What is it ? " exclaimed Jack. "A note from Mist' May, sir," answered Monday. "Give it here. What a nuisance the fellow is." Jack opened the note, after asking Dawson's permission to do so. As he proceeded to read its contents, he looked pale, and a dark frown gathered on his brow. e 76 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. CHAPTER XLIII. A MYSTERIOUS PARCEL. SEEING that Jack was upset, Sir Sydney Dawson, ex- claimed "Anything disagreeable in the letter? Is your grand- , mother dead, or has your sister bolted with a lawyers clerk ? " "As I have neither the one nor the other, you are out in both cases," answered Jack. "Perhaps the bank in which your governor puts his money has gone to smash." " Wrong again." " Then your mother's favourite cat is dead ? " " She hates animals, and we have nothing more im- portant at home than a painted cock-sparrow pale yellow sort of colour, which we are foolish enough to call a canary, but as it never sings, I have my doubts/' said Jack. "Governor go in for cows ? " "Yes, he' farms." "Then the cows have got the rinderpest what do you call it ? cattle-disease ; or the rickyard's burnt down, or his pet bantams have got the pip, or the churn's gone wron&', and they're hard up for butter, or " "My dear fellow," replied Jack, "if you were to guess for a month, you wouldn't hit it." ' ' Let the oracle explain itself. I am not a good hand at guessing. Unfold the mysterious tale forthwith, or look out for a book at your head. " "Thank you!" exclaimed Jack. "The book would not be long in coming back again. But, look here, I have had a letter from Gentle May." "If it's not an impertinent question, who may the individual be? " asked Sir Sydney, crossing his legs. "A freshman, and the biggest ass I ever saw." "If names go for anything in this sublunary sphere " ' ' That's a big word, " exclaimed Jack. ' ' What was it ? * "Allow me to explain. At somebody's lecture the /A CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 277 other day, I was taught that a sphere meant a globe, and a globe meant the earth. Sub was Latin for under, and Luna meant the moon, and as our earth is beneath the moon, I intended to convey the idea of the world on which we now sit and smoke, to your limited compre- hension. " "Thanks," replied Jack, drily. "Go on." "That's all." "You mean that Gentle May ought from his name to be a fool." "Exactly," answered Sir Sydney. "He isn't," said Jack. " I have found him just the contrary, but he has riled me in this letter." "Oh, it is from the party with the funny name." "Yes." ' ' Serves you right. When you are established at a place and have friends, you should not pick up with a lot of new fellows you know nothing about," replied Dawson. " He brought a letter of introduction to me." "All the more reason why you should fight shy of him." "But the introduction " "Hate introductions," interrupted Sir Sydney. "A fellow generally \vants to get you into some swindle, or borrow a five-pound note from you, when he gets an introduction. " " He is so simple, though." "Possibly. What does his simplicity consist in, in the present instance ? " " He says he has got the toothache and can't go out asks me to go to the chemist's and buy him some stuff for his tooth, and then go on to the station and inquire for a parcel for him, which I shall find there, and I am to be very careful with it, as it contains valuable property." "That's pretty good cheek for a freshman," said Sir Sydney, laughing. "Just what I thought." " Fancy making a porter of the best oar and the best bat in the university. You should cut this man, Hark- away. It's bad form to know such fellows." "It's only his simplicity." 278 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. " Hang his simplicity, and him too, to the same tree. That's what I should say," replied Davvson. "I think I shall humour him, and go and do his errands." "Like a shop-boy," said Dawson, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, there is no accounting for taste." "Consider a moment." " It does not want any consideration. All I know is, if a fellow asked me to fetch and carry for him, I should refer him to his scout." "I'll do that afterwards. It will be a good joke to do as he asks. When we were in London last summer, my father had a house in Belgrave Square. Lord Eccleston called on him, rather badly dressed ; and the hall porter thinking he was nobody, said my father was engaged for a few minutes, and asked his lordship to go to the nearest ' pub.' and get him a pint of porter, giving him the halfpence and saying he should have a penny for himself." "Did he do it?" "Yes, and has told the story as a great joke ever since. The porter almost fainted, when he knew who Eccleston was, and that he was a cabinet minister with twenty thousand a year." "Well," said Sir Sydney, "if you are going in for the errand-boy sort of thing, I will see you through it. Let's get him a ha'p'orth of arsenic fcr his tooth, and shy his parcel at his head." "We won't behave so ferociously as that," answered Jack, putting on his hat They left college together, and went to the railway station, where they asked for, and obtained, a heavy parcel, directed to Mr. Gentle May. Jack put it under his arm, and as they strolled back, they observed Kemp standing inside the entrance to a small hotel near the station. " There is that fellow Kemp," said Jack. " If it wasn't for him, I should like a beer." "Never mind him. I certainly should not keep out of a place because he was in it," answered Sir Sydney. "Come in, then." They entered, and were asked into the private bar, into which Kemp followed them. JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 279 Neither Sir Sydney nor Jack took any notice of him, and he pretended to be very much engaged in admiring the charms of a young lady who officiated as barmaid. When Jack's back was turned, the barmaid took up a newspaper and very dexterously pinned it to his coat collar. Two or three people came in and began to laugh. First of all the merriment was subdued, then it degen- erated into a loud guffaw. Turning round, Jack exclaimed "What on earth are those fellows laughing at?" "Country bumpkins will laugh at anything," answered Sir Sydney. Kemp approached the mantelpiece with a cigar in his mouth, and a piece of paper in his hand. A small fire burned in the grate, more to keep a kettle boiling than because the weather was cold. " If you don't want all the fire, you fellows," he ex- claimed, " perhaps you will kindly let me get a light." Sir Sydney moved a little, but Jack did not stir. Kemp bent down, and putting his arm between them, lighted his cigar, but at the same time managed to set fire to the paper pinned to Jack's back. "Thank you," he said, and withdrew. A brief space elapsed. Suddenly Sir Sydney exclaimed "Curious smell of fire, isn't there?" " So I thought," replied Jack. " Smoke too. Wonder where it is." "Ask the barmaid," said Jack. "I say, miss," exclaimed Sir Sydney, "is there any- thing burning on your premises? " The barmaid looked round, and replied "I think your friend is on fire ? " "On fire?" "Yes." At this moment Jack experienced an unpleasant sensa- tion about the regions of his legs. His calves were unpleasantly warm. " By Jove ! " he exclaimed ; "I'm hot." ' ' Why, who the deuce has done this ? " said Sir Sydney. "There is a burning newspaper fastened to your back. and your gown and coat-tails are smoking like mad. " 280 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. ''Send for the engine," suggested the barmaid "Pull it off, somebody ! " cried Jack. He grew alarmed, and ran wildly about. The more he moved the faster the flames burned. Kemp with difficulty refrained from laughing. In his terror Jack ran into the street, and very swiftly Sir Sydney ran after him, and after tearing off the paper, forced him on his back in the gutter, down which some dirty water was running. "You'll be all right directly, old man," he exclaimed, " How are the legs ? " "Warmish," replied Jack. He rose, and Sir Sydney surveyed the damage. "Bags rather burnt," he said; coat-tails ditto, body of coat injured by water, ditto gown, cap unhurt, having rolled into rain. Uninsured." " Who did it ? " asked Jack. " Query," said Sir Sydney. Jack found himself the centre of an admiring crowd. "Hurrah, boys! here's another guy!" exclaimed a townsman. There was a roar of laughter. "Better erect another martyrs' memorial, "said a second. " He's Cranmer, come to be burnt over again," shouted a third. Jack was getting wild. Sir Sydney saw this, and said "Come inside." " Hanged if I do. I'll have it out of somebody," re- plied Jack. " You must pitch into me first, then," replied Dawson, dragging him forcibly into the house. "Let go, Dawson," cried Jack, when inside the bar. "I won't be mauled and messed about like this by any- one. " "It's only his Dawson, "replied the baronet, coaxingly. " He don't mind his Dawson, does he ? " " Don't be a fool. Where's Kemp ? He knows some- thing about this, I'll swear. " "Of course ; Kemp was the only man in the bar. He must have done it ; I'll swear I didn't. I hate those practical jokes. " "If I thought you would lower yourself to such a JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 2 6 I thing, I'd never speak to you again, that's all," said Jack, savagely. "Perhaps I should survive it, but I take my dick it wasn't me. Did his angry passions rise and get the better of him ? " " I am wild," replied Jack. " Enough to make you." "Let's get back. Kemp's sloped, I expect, for I don't see him." "He's wise," replied Sir Sydney. "Hold hard a minute ; I haven't paid. What have we had? " "Two glasses of bitter," replied Jack. The barmaid had discreetly vanished as well as Kemp. Only a boy was in the bar. " Now then, stupid," exclaimed Sir Sydney ; " wake up ! Do you hear ? Wake up, stupid ; I don't know your other name." ' ' What is it, sir ? " asked the boy. ' ' Two bitters. Catch, " said Sir Sydney, who threw him a sixpence. "That's right, sir," said the boy. "Bitters is three- pence to Oxford gents in the private bar." "Bismarcked again," answered Sir Sydney. "But no matter. Give me that sixpence back, boy. It. was a bad one." " Duffer, sir ? I thought it was thinnish, " said the boy, unsuspectingly, handing back the coin. Dawson put it in his pocket "We shall pay when we are passing," he said. " How- ever, you will have your revenge in two stomachaches, for the beer was beastly bad.' The boy stared blankly at him. "Where's my parcel ? " asked Jack, looking round him. ' ' What parcel ? " "Why, May's ; the one we went to the station for." They looked everywhere for it, but it was gone. "What a nuisance," said Jack. " I've lost the parcel. Perhaps some of those fellows at the bar sneaked it while I was on fire." " More unlikely things than that have happened in this sublunary " "Bother your sublunary spheres," interrupted Jack. " What shall I say to May ? " 282 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. "Tell him it was a plan of Kemp's, which I believe it really was." "Do you?" "I do, indeed." " Bless that fellow," said Jack. " I should like to give him what for. It was like his infernal cheek to set me on fire, if he did do it." "Who else could?" "It must have been done while he lighted his cigar." " No doubt," replied Sir Sydney. "I must tell May how it happened, and if there was anything very valuable in the parcel, I will pay him for it. Can't say more than that, can I? " "No ; if the fellow is a gentleman, he will see it in a moment." ' ' Will you come with me to his rooms ? " asked Jack. " No thanks. Kindly excuse me. Not a man I want to know at all." "Please yourself." "You'd better re-gown and put on another pair of bags," laughed Sir Sydney. "I will when I get back to college. Come along," replied Jack. They walked back together. Jack was not in the best of tempers, and when he got to his rooms, he took 'off his boots and threw them at Monday's head, because he got between him and the light. " Why um throw um boots, sare," asked Monday. " Want to see which are hardest, um boots or um head ? '' "Get out," replied Jack, "I'm in a nasty temper." Monday retired, rubbing his head, and Jack prepared to go to Gentle May's room by himself. JA CJi XARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 383 CHAPTER XUV. AN EXPOSURE. A SHORT time after the scene in the hotel Kemp made his way into Gentle May's room. He had something carefully hidden under his arm and covered with his gown. May was evidently waiting for him, as he got up eagerly from his seat, and exclaimed " Well, did it come off all right ? " *' Beautifully," replied Kemp. " How did you manage it ? " "Easily enough. As I thought, they came into the hotel near the station, and I began to play my little game." "Where is the parcel?" " Here," replied Kemp, throwing it on the table. May hastily took it up, and hid it away in a drawer. " Only a flat-iron and a couple of horse-shoes," he ex- claimed, with a laugh, and in a very different manner to that he usually assumed. "It doesn't matter," answered Kemp also laughing. "Jewellery is heavy when it is made of pure gold, and as long as the parcel is heavy, you can swear it contained what you like." " Go on with your story," replied May. " I spooned that barmaid awfully. She is a nice little tit, and I rather liked it. I'm on there." "No, be hanged if you are. She's an old spoon of mine. " " Never mind, we shan't quarrel about her," answered Kemp. " There are plenty of little fillies running about loose, and only wants breaking in. As I was saying, I spooned her, and got her to fasten a newspaper to Hark- away's collar with a pin. " "What was that for?" " You'll hear directly. Don't be so awfully anxious." "All right ; spin along," replied May, lighting a cigar, and pouring out some beer. "What's that ?" asked Kemp. " Malt ; just fetched from the buttery." 284 J'A CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. "Give me a pull. I hadn't time to drink, and I've pelted along so beastly hard to get up here that I'm as dry as a ditch in summer." May pushed the tankard over to him, and he drank heartily. " Feel better ? " asked May. " I do, after a good beer, always." " Stones better," answered Kemp. "Well, when I saw this done, I went behind Mr. Harkaway to light a cigar, at a little bit of fire there was to boil the kettle, and in doing so I set the paper in a blaze." ' ' What a lark ! Wasn't there a chyike ? '' " Rather. Dawson was with him, and when Harkaway ran into the street in a funk, he put him in the gutter." "Whereupon you sloped with the plunder?" " Exactly." "And left them to fight it out ? " "You're right, my pippin," answered Kemp. "And now fork out the chips. I've earned them." May gave him four five-pound notes. "Twenty quid," he said ; " that's what we agreed for, isn't it ? " " To a brown, thanks, " replied Kemp, storing the money away in his trousers pocket, as if it had been cigarette paper. "What will Harkaway do?'' inquired May, after a slight pause. " Kick up a shine, I expect." "With whom?" " Me. I shall be accused of getting up the disturbance, in which the parcel was lost." " You are very much alarmed at that, of course ? " "Very," replied Kemp, smiling. "I know what I shall do, and if I don't make it hot for him, I " There was a knock at the door, which Kemp had in- advertently left open. " By Jove ! " said Kemp. " There he is ! " "I wish you were out of it. But it can't be helped. Stand by me, " replied May, turning a shade paler The next moment Jack entered the room. "Perhaps I am intruding ? " "Not at all," replied May. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 285 " I was not aware Mr. Kemp was a friend of yours." "Quite a recent acquaintance, I assure you." " Is it an offence for me to know a fellow with whom you are on terms of intimacy ? " asked Kemp insolently. "I don't wish to talk to you at present, therefore, oblige me by drying up," replied Jack. Kemp walked to the window, and putting his hands in his pockets, began to whistle. " How's your toothache ? " asked Jack. " Better, thanks. Have you got me any stuff? " "No, I forgot it. Awfully sorry." " But you have m}'- parcel, I hope. Ma sent me some very valuable jewellery in it, and I want to make a few presents to friends who have been kind to me, yourself among the number," said May. " I got it, and unfortunately lost it." Gentle May started from his chair. " Lost it ! " he exclaimed. "Oh, what will ma say? Oh, Mr. Harkaway, you can not have lost it ! " " I tell you I have." "Impossible. What will ma say? Dear ma ! she will be so annoyed," continued May. "Listen to me. This is how it happened," said Jack, as he related all that had occurred. May remained silent, kicking his feet about restlessly. " If there is anything valuable in the parcel, and you will tell me the amount, I will gladly pay you," Jack said, at length. "A hundred pounds would not cover my loss. Oh, Mr. Harkaway, I am sorry for you, but I must tell the police," replied May. "Sorry for me? Why?" "The circumstances are so suspicious." "What the deuce do you mean?" said Jack, all the blood coming into his face. " I told you the parcel was valuable in my note." "Well?" " And you live in a fast set." " Hang me if I take your meaning," replied Jack. " I don't say so, but there's ill-natured people who would say you a you stole the jewellery," said May. This was more than Jack could stand. "You contemptible little humbug," he said. 286 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. have your life. How dare you say such a thing to me ? How dare you ? " He rushed at him, seized him by the neck, and shook him like a rat. Each time he shook him he repeated ' ' How dare you ? how dare you ? " "Oh, don't, please don't! Ma said I was not strong enough to fight," gasped Gentle May. Kemp advanced in a threatening attitude. " Let him alone," he exclaimed. Jack looked at him. " Did you hear what he said ? " he asked. "Yes." " Am I not justified in shaking the little beast ? " "No. He was more justified in what he said," said Kemp. "Oh, was he? Well, I'll polish you off first. I've got an account of long standing to settle with you," answered Jack. He released May who sank into a chair and began to cry. " Oh," he said. " what would ma say, and Bobby and Tommy, and all my other sisters ? What a disgraceful scene in my rooms, too ! " Jack threw out his left and Kemp rolled over on to the sofa. "Come on," said Jack. "I'll give you something to remember, Mr. Kemp. You don't perform upon me for nothing, I can tell you. " Kemp was rather dizzy from the effects of the blow. "I'm not a prize-fighter," he said. "Nor I." "Let the little fellow alone. A strong man like you ought to be ashamed to hit a little one like May." "Is a little man to be cheeky, just because he is small ? " asked Jack. Kemp made no answer. " If you won't fight, take that," said Jack, kicking him, "and sit still while I perform the same operation upon this contemptible cur, who is more so in my eyes than ever since I find he knows a man of your stamp." "My stamp?" said Kemp, retiring again to the window. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 287 "Yes. Everyone in Oxford knows what you are, from the dons to the scouts. " Oh ! " groaned May, " that I should ever live to wit- ness such a scene." "I haven't begun yet," answered Jack. "Come out, you whining hound. You'll tell me I stole your parcel, will you ? Come out ? " May refused to move. Jack made another dash at him, and seized him by the hair. To his surprise, he fell backwards. Instead of clutching hair, he had simply pulled off a light wig. In an instant he was on his feet again. Before him stood, or rather crouched, in an attitude of abject terror, not Gentle May, but Frank Davis. "Davis!" he cned. "Is this another conspiracy? Kicked out of the university, have you dared to disguise yourself and enter under a false name? '' There was a dead silence. "This accounts for Mr. Kemp being here, and the alleged loss of the valuable parcel," cried Jack. "Well, you're a nice pair of beauties, anyhow ; but, you see, you are not a match for me." Still neither spoke. "Wanted to make me out a thief, did you ? " continued Jack, between his teeth "wanted to have me accused of a robbery, eh ? Clever idea, but you're licked, my boys. You didn't do it badly, Mr. Davis. You took me in as Mr. May, and I'll compliment you on your acting, but you went a little too far with your humble servant. " "Since you have found me out," said Davis, "I have only to beg for your mercy." "What do you expect? " Give me till to-morrow to get away out of the univer- sity, and I will never trouble you again." " I will not give you any time, Mr. Davis," said Jack. "You shall be exposed at once. You had to leave Oxford for a disgraceful abduction ; the police ^ have got a warrant out against you for your arrest now." "Spare me," said Davis abjectly. "Will I ? Wait till I see the dean and the police. I'll hunt you out of Oxford, you vermin. " 288 JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. Davis sank back again in his chair, and covered his face with his hands. He had come back to Oxford after his flight, disguised in such a manner that he thought he should be able to defy detection. Who could trace any resemblance between the sharp, keen Frank Davis and the simple, stupid Gentle May? One was dark. The latter fair. It was a good plot, but Jack's luck had frustrated its design. Of course, his hope and end was to ruin Jack in some way. First of all he tried to make him break his neck, by riding his vicious horse. Then with Kemp's aid Kemp being in the secret all the time he wished to make him out the stealer of the pretended jewellery in the parcel If this had been circulated, it would have done Hark- away a great deal of harm. Gentlemen are particular. They do not ' ke to have their friends talked about. "What do you mean to do?" asked Davis, at length. " I have proved that you came back to Oxford under a false name, when you had tak^ . your real name off the books. You are an impostor. You have committed an offence against the law, by carrying off a girl against her will, and keeping her confined in a labourer's cottage. If that is not enough to ruin you forever, I don't know what is," replied Jack. " Let me go," said Davis. " I'll return to Singapore." "I can't trust you," answered Jack. "The police and the college authorities must deal with you. Your acting is too good for me to sleep easily while I know you are about." Driven temporarily mad, Davis paced the room, his face convulsed with passion. "Have you no mercy? "he asked, stopping in front of Jack. " Have you shown me any? " replied Jack. "The fact was I loved Emily." " Why should you hate me in consequence? " " Because I saw there was no hope for me while you lived," said Davis. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 289 "And therefore you wanted to kill or ruin me. Thank you. I'm obliged to you sincerely obliged," answered Jack, sarcastically. "Let me go away, I swear you shall never see or hear from me again." "I will not" Jack spoke in a tone of decision. " Kemp," said Davis. "Well, "said Kemp. "Take this man away. I want to get out of the room. " "I can't interfere. He's too big for me," answered Kemp, who was a coward in his heart. "By heaven ! " screamed Davis ; " I will get out some- how." He made a rush at the door. Jack's iron frame interposed, and he was frustrated in this attempt. The window was open. He took one glance at it. One long, mad, despairing glance. "I cannot be exposed and disgraced," he muttered. ' ' I must go ! I must ! I must I I MUST ! " The excitement under which he was labouring was too much for him. Making a wild spring, he rushed to the window, jumped on the sill, and waved his arms. "Curse you ! " he cried. " May my dying curse cling to both of you. " The next moment he bad thrown himself into the quad He fell headlong. "Save him stop him! For God's sake save him ! exclaimed Jack, who did not believe he was in earnest, till he saw him fall. Kemp did not move. He stood like a marble statue, with blanched lips and motionless hands. 2QO JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. CHAPTER XLV. JACK IS HAUNTED. JACK was the first to recover his presence of mind. Running down stairs he entered the quad, and found Davis lying on his back, apparently dead, the blood ooz- ing from a wound in his head. The miserable young man, in a moment of frenzy, had committed suicide. He could not bear the disgrace which would follow exposure, and his hot southern blood was inflamed to such an extent that he was not master of himself. In an instant Kemp was by his side. He knelt down and put one hand on Davis's heart, while he held his watch open in the other and looked at the second hand. A small crowd had collected round them, consisting of undergraduates and others who were crossing the quad. "Is he dead ? " asked Jack. "Yes," replied Kemp, briefly. Without saying another word, he ran to the porter's lodge, and presently returned with a shutter, upon which the body was placed. "Where are you going to take him ?" asked Jack again. "What's that to you?" replied Kemp. "Mind your own business. If it had not been for you, this would not have happened." Jack was silent. He felt that he had been the indirect cause of Davis's death, and he was sorry. The man had done nothing to deserve his sympathy or command his friendship. On the contrary. He had been his determined enemy. Still it was very shocking to see any one stricken down in this awful way, in the pride and strength of his youth. The fall from the second-floor window was quite enough to account for death. JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 2 9 1 In melancholy silence the shutter was carried away. At this juncture Sir Sydney Dawson joined the crowd. : What is the diversion ? " he-exclaimed. 'Davis has committed suicide," replied Jack. Davis ! " 'Yes," said Jack, abstractedly. 'But," said Sir Sydney, in surprise, "I thought Mr. Davis had left the university, and that St. Aldate's was free from his unsavoury presence." "Ah, you don't know. I went to Gentle May's room and I found that May was Davis in disguise. He accused me of stealing his parcel, which you know very well I did not do. I made a rush at him, his wig came off, and when he found he was discovered, and I meant to expose him, he went mad, and jumped out of the win- dow. " " Where is he now ? " "Kernp has taken him away somewhere." " Poor beggar? what an end," said Sir Sydney. The men who were standing around went away after hearing the explanation, and dividing into twos and threes, began to talk about the strange occurrence. Sir Sydney took Jack's arm, and drew him towards the gateway. Jack followed passively. Turning down a by-street, they found themselves near the Randolph Hotel, and going in, Sir Sydney handed Jack his cigar-case and ordered a bottle of wine. "What are you going to do ? " said Jack. "You must have a glass of something to keep you up," replied Sir Sydney ; " you are a cup too low. This will never do." "I can't help reproaching myself with Jhat man's death. "said Jack. "Have a weed?" "No, thanks ; I am too nervous to smoke." "What was the cause of the feud between you? I never really knew why you and Davis were at vari- ance. " " He met me in Singapore," said Jack ; " you know I have been abroad a great deal. Well, he fell in love with mv little pet, Emily, whom I am to marry as soon as I have taken my B. A. degree. " 292 JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORb. "Oh, is the happy event to take place as soon as you are a bachelor of arts ? " " I hope so. Davis's father sent him over here to be educated, and though he had treated me very badly in Singapore, he was not satisfied with that ; he began again here, and palled in with Kemp. Between them, they have occasioned me a lot of worry, and another old enemy Hunston, has stood in with them." "You ought not to be sorry at Davis' death." " If he had died in any other way, it would have been different ; it is such a shocking thing, his going off as he did. I shall never get over it." "Nonsense, man," said Sir Sydney. " Drink some of this champagne, and don't be a child." " He asked me to forgive him." " And very naturally you would not ? " "No." " How could you ? " " He said he would never molest me again, if I would let him get away, and not expose him," answered Jack. " Very likely indeed that you were going to believe him," replied Sir Sydney. " How did he explain his com- ing up here again, in disguise as Gentle May ? " "It's no use talking about it," said Jack. "He was wrong, but I wasn't right ; I ought to have forgiven him, and let him go." " To give you more annoyance in the future a very likely thing indeed," laughed Dawson, ironically. "If the man chose to go cranky, and jump out of a window, it was not your fault." "What will the world say, if there is an inquest, which I suppose there will be ? " "Served him right, that will be the verdict. No one will be sorry for the vicious little Creole. " "Think not ? " asked Jack, looking up rather hopefully. " I am sure of it." "Won't they blame me? " " How can they? If the facts are explained, you are sure to come out of it with clean hands. If you had pushed him out of the window, it would be a different thing altogether ; he did it of his own free will and accord, and I cannot see how you are to blame in the -natter." JACK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 293 " I can't get the sight out of my eyes. The poor fellow looked so awful, lying in the quad, with the blood on his face. " ' He wouldn't let you alone," said Dawson. ' I shall be haunted by him, I know I shall." ' Rot ! Take a weed ? " ' No, thanks," persisted Jack. ' I say you shall. Drink this wine, and then we will have a talk." Jack was compelled to smoke and take a glass of wine. When the bottle was finished, they strolled about, and dropped into a billiard-room, where there were some Ox- ford men, whom they joined in a game of shell-out for shillings. ' ' What are you playing ? " asked Dawson. "Only shell-out," said a voice. It was Harvey. "Is that you, Dick?" asked Jack, looking up with swollen eyes. "Yes, old man ; what's come to you?" " I'll tell you presently. What's your game? " "Shell-out. Very mild; only for bobs. Will you play ? " " Of course he will," said Sir Sydney ; " that's what I brought him here for." The balls were all put on the table, and the game began. When Harvey had an opportunity of talking to Jack, he said " What's all the row about May and Davis, suicide and grief, and all the rest of it ? Everyone is talking about it, and they say it wasn't your fault" Jack told him all. " Well, I'm what shall I say ? knocked off my perch, flummoxed, hit into a heap, sat upon, and utterly extin- guished," exclaimed Harvey. "Who'd have thought it? But didn't I warn you against the beggar May, alias Davis ? My instinct told me there was something wrong about the swab." Jack make no reply, and when the game was over, he went back to college. For a week or more Kemp was absent At the expiration of that time, as Jack was coming out 294 J* CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. of chape!, he saw Kemp, and an irresistible impulse induced him to stop him. " Mr. Kemp," he said, touching his shoulder. "Well," replied Kemp, coldly. "Can I have a word with you? " "Certainly, if you wish it." " What has become of Davis ? I have looked in all the Oxford papers, and have seen no account of an inquest." " Perhaps not," replied Kemp ; "he recovered a little, and I took him to his friends in London, not wishing him to die if he was to die, amongst strangers." "And is he dead ? " " Yes, three days ago ; he was buried yesterday." "Where?" "In Kensal Green Cemetery, and as soon as the cere- mony was over, I came back," continued Kemp. " Was there no inquest ? " "None. We wished the affair to be kept dark, and if you have any regard for the unfortunate man whom you have driven to the grave " "I?" "Well, we won't quarrel about it," said Kemp; all I will say is if you wish him well, now he is gone, you will hold your tongue about the matter. It is a sad thing, the saddest that I ever mixed up in. Good-morning." He passed on, and Jack went back to his rooms to breakfast A month passed, during which time he was very gloomy and miserable. Davis's death preyed upon his mind. Being naturally a good-hearted man, he could not bear the idea of having caused Davis's death, through refusing to forgive him. But how was he to tell the man would go mad, and jump out of the window ? If people will do these extraordinary things, they are alone to blame and must take the consequences. It wanted but three weeks to the Christmas vacation. Jack was reading hard, and he looked forward eagerly to the holidays, which would enable him to have a change, and perhaps turn his thoughts into a more healthy channel. It may seem very silly, but he thought that he was haunted by the ghost of Davis. JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. 2 95 He often sat up till three in the morning reading hard, and when he looked up from his book, he fancied he saw a shadowy form standing near the window, jumping on the sill and falling backwards. He would rush to the window, and find it closed. Then he laughed at his silly fancies, but they made an impression on him nevertheless, and he grew thin and pale. Harvey, with the eye of an old friend, did not fail to see this change in Jack. One evening he came in and said "I feel rather low to-night, Jack, and want a livener. Send Monday for a bowl of bishop to the ' Mitre.' " " I am busy," replied Jack, looking up from his Herod- otus, " but you can have what you like. Start the black." " Monday ! " shouted Harvey. "I'm coming, sare," replied Monday, from his private room. "Go and get a bowl of bishop, and look sharp." "Give um money, sare." "Go to Putney. Stick it up to Mr. Harka way's tick." " I never tick now," said Jack. "I'll pay for it ; then perhaps you'll drink it when it comes," exclaimed Harvey. "I never drink now," answered Jack. "Have a cigar?" "I never smoke now, thanks ; you know I am going up for smalls. " "What on earth do you do then?" "See ghosts," said Jack, nervously. Harvey laughed. "Go and get the bishop, Monday, and be lively over it, " he said, and when the black had gone, he continued "The fact is, Jack, old boy, that you are reading too hard, and drinking too much green tea. It won't do. Stash it, my dear fellow." Jack shook his head in a melancholy manner. "You won't believe me," he said. "But I give you my word I saw Davis last night." "Davis?" " His ghost, I mean." "Where?" " In this room," said Jack earnestly. 296 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. " How did he come in ? How did he go out ? " asked Harvey. " He came in through the door, walked round the room, and how he went away I don't know, for I fainted." "It's all through reading too hard, Jack," replied Harvey. "You were the best oar in the eight, the best bat in the eleven, and your beastly ambition wants you to be first in the class list." "No. It's not that." "I'm satisfied it is, and before I'd ruin my health, I'-l see the classical tripos at the bottom of the sea. You can't be everything. " "I don't want to be," said Jack. "You do. You want to be an Admirable Crichton." "Not at all," replied Jack feebly. "You're a born athletic, a rowing-man, a cricketer, and all that sort of thing, but you are not fit for reading hard. Take it easy, and fluke it when you go into the schools." Monday arrived with the bowl of bishop, and both the young men paid partial attention to it, Jack's spirits re- viving a little under its genial influence. About eleven o'clock, Harvey, after smoking a rather strong cigar, felt sleepy and said good-night, while Jack continued to read Herodotus. " Cut that old Greek buffer," said Harvey, "and turn in between the sheets. You want lots of sleep. " "Then I want what I can't get. My head aches like blazes now," answered Jack. "Come down and play at football, or do something." "I'll tie a wet towel round my head, and go on sap- ping." "All right ta, ta ! We are going to have a hard frost, and I'll have you out as soon as the ice bears," said Harvey. Jack went on reading, turning to his dictionary every now and then, and at last wetted a towel in the hand- basin, and tied it round his head. It might have been twelve o'clock when he heard a noise. Looking up, he saw the door open, and Frank Davis entered, or, rather glided, into the room. His movements were like that of the ghosts in the "Corsican Brothers." JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 297 Eyes fixed and glassy, a wound on his forehead, which, was stained with blood, the clothes he had on when he fell from the window. Slowly he walked past Jack, and went to the window. He looked out and turned back. "Who and what are you? " almost screamed Jade. There was no reply. A cold sweat broke out all over him. Mocking laughter seemed to come from various parts of the room. Trembling like a leaf, Jack watched the apparition with all-devouring sight. It made the circuit of the room, and regained the door. Then it fixed its snake-like eyes upon Jack, raised its arm threateningly, and vanished. Harkaway let his head fall upon his hands, and for a time lost all consciousness. CHAPTER XLVI. THE GHOST ON THE ICE. IT was clear to all Jack's friends that he was far from well. They put it down to hard work and close study, but Jack knew that he was haunted, and the impression grew upon his mind. A day or two after the apparition we have described, Jack walked down to the house of the first doctor in Oxford. He was admitted into the consulting-room, the door was shut, and he was alone with Dr. Angus, who was justly considered one of the best physicians of the day. "What's the matter, Mr. Mr. Harkaway?" asked the doctor, looking at Jack's card. "Nothing serious, I hope." "I can tell you my disease in three words," said Jack. ' ' Do so. " " I am haunted." The doctor looked surprised. "Are you a reading man ? " he asked 2 98 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. " I have been reading lately." "Do you have delusions, or do you see apparitions?" "The latter," replied Jack. "What shape does it take ? " "The form of a man I used to know, who, partly tnrough my fault, fell out of the window and broke his neck." "Lately?" "A week or two ago," answered Jack. " Was he a very dear friend ? " asked Doctor Angus. " No ; on the contrary, he was an enemy, but I upbraid myself for his death." "I perceive. Remorse will often produce a morbid state of mind. When and where do you see the ghost ? " "At night in my rooms. Twice I have seen it -in the street in broad daylight, walking in front Of me." "Describe the man to me minutely," said the doctor. " He is dressed, as he was when he died, with the ex- ception of the cap and gown. Black hair cut short, pale face, and a deep red stain on his temple, just as I saw him lying in the quad of St. Aldate's after the accident " "Curious case," said the doctor, musingly. "I can see that this fancy is making you quite " " You believe, then, it is fancy ? " Jack replied. "Who can speak with certainty?" answered Doctor Angus. "I never saw a ghost, and never met anyone who had, but it would be rash on that account to say there is no such thing as a ghost." "I always laughed at the idea of ghosts, until lately," said Jack. "But since I have been haunted by Davis, I can't help believing that " Suddenly he stopped speaking. His face went ashy pale, his frame quivered, and with trembling hands he pointed in the direction of a little window, partly covered with a gauze blind, which looked into the street about five feet above the level of the pave- ment. If a passer-by chose to be rude enough, he could just look over the top of the blind into the physician's study. "What is the matter?" asked the doctor, alarmed at his visitor's manner. "There ! " cried Jack. " I saw it again." "Where?" JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 299 " At the window. He was staring at me, as he always does, with his great black eyes ; oh, I cannot bear it, he haunts me everywhere." Doctor Angus rose, and went to the window. There was no one there, and but few people in the street " Singular case of delusion," he said. " But 1 saw him," persisted Jack. The doctor shook his head. " Do you think I am mistaken ? " asked Jack. "I'm sure of it. You must leave off reading ; go more into the open air. I think, if I am not mistaken, you are one of the shining lights of our university, Mr. Harkaway. I seem to be familiar with your name." " I am in the eleven and the eight," answered Jack. "Exactly. I thought so; now take my advice. Go out more ; you shall have some medicine of a tonic char- acter, and I hope to see you better soon. Give me a call in a week's time." Jack slipped a guinea into the doctor's hand, which was his fee, thanked him, and went away. He was not at all satisfied with the interview. To have a fixed delusion in one's mind at his age is not pleasant. Nor is it agreeable to fancy that you have continually a dead man about you. The weather continued very cold. Every night there was a hard black frost, and the dull, heavy sky and easterly wind promised a long continuance of cold weather. One morning Harvey burst into Jack's rooms after breakfast. " Hurrah ! " he cried, jumping about like a madman. "What's the row, Dick?" asked Jack. "Can't you stand still, instead of going about like a teetotum ? " "The ice bears, "replied Harvey, "and I feel so jolly, I can't be quiet." " Does it bear ? I'm glad of that." " So am I, old flick. We'll have some skating to-day." "Where?" "I've got an invitation from Holloway. You know Hollaway, don't you ? " "Yes. His people live close by, don't they ? " "That's it. There is some splendid ornamental watei 300 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. in his governor's park, and we shall be all to ourselves there. The dog-cart is coming to fetch us at eleven." " Has he asked me too ? " inquired Jack. "Yes. I made him put you in the party." "Monday," called Jack, showing more animation than his face had displayed for some time past. "What um matter now, sare?" replied Monday, com- ing into the room. " Get my skates ; rub them up well with a bit of sand- paper and oil the straps." Monday was shivering with the cold. "Wish um was back in Limbi, sare," he said. "It so jolly cold here." ''That's the beauty of it, you chuckle-headed old cod- fish," replied Harvey, laughing. "Monday him got on three flannel shirt, two pair drawers, and four waistcoats, but yet um not warm." " You extravagant beast. Anyone would take you for an animated old-clothes shop." Monday went away, rubbing his hands, to get the skates ready. Jack and Harvey walked over to Holloway's rooms, and fond him waiting for them. The dog-cart was in readiness, and the three got in, being driven quickly away. As they crossed Magdalen Bridge Harvey noticed a one-armed man looking at them. 'That's Hunston," he exclaimed. ' Is it? What does the fellow want in Oxford? Mis- ch ef brewing again," answered Jack. ' Seen any ghosts lately ? " asked Harvey. 'No ; not for some days." 'You're getting better. I thought you would," said Harvey, gladly. When they reached the Hall, where Holloway lived, a merry party was assembled. The old squire, his wife, their charming daughters, and four boys home for their holidays, crowded round them, making them welcome. "Come inside, gentlemen," said the squire, "and take the edge off your appetites. There is a boar's head, pheas- ant pie, and a host of things, which I hope you will do me the honour to tasta " JA CK HA RKA WAY AT OXFORD. 30 1 In vain Jack pleaded that he had breakfasted. He wa taken into the dining-room and compelled to eat, afterwards drinking a flagon of home-brewed. " Now for the ice," cried everybody. They took up their skates, and joined the party at the front door. The girls and boys all skated, and were in high glee at the prospect before them. " Ha ! " exclaimed Mr. Hollo way, as the sound of wheels was heard, and a carriage was seen coming up the avenue, "here is an arrival. The more the mer- rier. " "It's Mrs. Travers's carriage, " said young Holloway ; " I know her pair of greys." At the mention of this name, Jack's face brightened. Perhaps Emily was with her, as Mrs. Travers seldom travelled without her companion. The next minute, the carriage drove up, and Mrs. Travers and Emily stepped out, followed by two boys and the same number of girls. "Emily, my darling, "exclaimed Jack, shaking her hand, "this is really a pleasure, and the more charming because it was unexpected." The Misses Holloway looked superciliously at Emily. They could see in a moment that Harkaway was engaged to her, and they had particularly asked their brother to bring some nice eligible men with him. The Misses Holloway wanted to get married. Most young ladies do. " I am so glad to see you, dear Jack," answered Emily. " But how ill you look ! " "Do I?" "Yes, indeed. Have you been working too hard lately ? " " Not that I know of," replied Jack. " It is nothing." He did not like to tell her he was haunted, as the in- telligence would have alarmed her. Presently everyone went to the ice, which was in the centre of a beautiful park. The ice at one end had been broken up for the cattle, and as the water was very deep there, the skaters were warned to keep away from that part Several hours were spent very agreeably. 302 JACK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. The ladies enjoyed themselves immensely, and Jack found great fun in teaching Emily to skate. It was growing dark, and Mr. Holloway proposed that the ladies should return and dress for dinner. Jack, Harvey and Holloway remained, determined to have another spin before they left off. "I'm rather cold," said Jack. "I've been coaching Emily, and I think I'll have a livener." "Cut along, I'll lead you a chivey," said Harvey. "No, I'll go by myself; I'm not a steam-engine like you." "Bye-bye," said Harvey, who spun off like a shot. Jack went off slowly at first, but increased his pace as he proceeded and his blood warmed with the exer- cise. The darkness increased. Innumerable pine and larch trees lined the lake, and cast their funereal shadows upon the shining, slippery ice. Everything looked dismal and melancholy. There was a clear course in the centre of the lake, of about two miles from end to end. The ice was in excellent condition, being very little cut up, and as smooth as glass. Suddenly Jack saw a figure before him. He thought it was Harvey. "Spin along, old man," he said, in high spirits now. " Bet you a skiv I catch you." Putting on his best pace, he flew over the ice. The figure before him made no reply. Skating as fast as he could, Jack tried to overtake the man in front of him. He forgot that he was nearing the dangerous portion of the lake, the part of which he had been warned where the ice was broken for the cattle, where the depth was twenty feet or more. The blinding snow dashed into his face, but he still rushed on. " I will see who it is," he said between his set teeth. With a fierce determination he urged himself to his highest speed, like a skam-engine under full pressure of steam. All at once the figure turned round. JA CK HAR* 'A WAY Al OXFORD. 303 Jack was surprised, foi although he had only an imper- fect view of the features, he certainly thought it looked like Davis. " Man, ghost, or devil," he ejaculated, " I will see who you are. I will have no more tricks played on me." The figure, however, was by this time many jrards ahead, and turning towards the other skaters, mingled with them and was lost to sight. Jack followed. He did not think of danger ; he forgot the warnings that had been given him until a great black gulf yawned straight in front of him. Then it crossed his mind that he was close upon the broken ice. Digging his heels down, he tried to stop himself. It was too late. The ice gave away beneath him with a crash, and he was plunged into the deep water, which eagerly clasped him in its freezing embrace. Down, down, he sank, many, many feet His heart almost ceased to beat, and he gave himself up for lost. It is not easy to swim in cold water in the middle o{ winter after a week's hard frost, when you have a thick boating coat on, a heavy pair of boots with skates at- tached, and a comforter round your neck which seems to be doing its best to strangle you. But when Jack came to the surface, he struck oi '. It was so dark, and the snow fell so quickly 'hat he could not tell where the shore was. After swimming a few strokes, he came in contact with the jagged, broken ice, and cut his hands. He grasped the ragged edge, and tried to haul himself up In vain. His limbs were becoming chilled, and he felt cramped all over. " Help ! help ! " he shouted. The melancholy sound of the wind through the branches oi the pine trees seemed to mock him. " Help, help ! " he continued to cry, "I am drowning. The snow beat upon his face, and the icy water grew more icy, until he was chilled to the marrow of his bones. 304 JA CK HARK A WAY AT OXFORD. He thought of his darling Emily. The dear little girl whom he loved so much, and who loved him with the same affection he had for her. He thought of the merry party at the hall, which he had hoped to join, the meeting at dinner, and the round game at cards in the evening. "Oh ! it is hard to die like this," he muttered " if I must die, after all I have gone through. But here goes for another try." He clutched the treacherous ice, and was only rewarded by breaking off several pieces instead of getting a firm footing. His senses gradually began to leave him. Suddenly he heard a voice exclaim " Hullo, Jack ! where are you? Hullo-o-u.! " It was Harvey. Jack was so far gone now that he could speak only with difficulty. " Hi 1 " he answered. " Dick, come here. I'm in the water. " Swift as lightning Harvey skated to the spot. His ears had caught the faint so:md. He knew his friend was in danger. "Where are you?" he exclaimed, pausing doubtingly in the snowstorm. "Here; mind how you come. I'm in the water. Gently, for Heaven's sake ! " answered Jack, making a last effort. Harvey went down on his hands and knees and crawled to the place from whence the voice proceeded. Soon strong arms had grasped him and laid him on the ice. Soon a loving voice whispered words of encouragement to him. But Jack heard them not ; he had become insensible. When he came to himself he was lying in a warm bed, a lamp burned on a table, and a bright fire was blazing in the grate. Harvey was by his side, and when his eyes opened, he said " That's right, old man; knew you would be yoursel! soon. " ' ' How did it happen ? " asked Jack, trying to remem- ber. JA CK HARKA WAY AT OXFORD. 305 "Drink this," said Harvey, offering him some wine- and-water hot. Presently it all came back to him. The figure, the fall in the water, his despair, and Har- vey's friendly voice. "Dick, you saved my life, "he said. "But how did you find me out ? " "I saw you start for a spin, for I wasn't far off," re- plied Harvey, "and followed you. At first I kept up with you ; afterwards you went at such a lick I was left behind, and lost you. What made you put such a spurt on ? " "I saw a figure I thought was Davis. I resolved to make certain, and followed. He swerved round all at once. I went on and fell in the water, and should have been drowned if it had not been for you." "All I can say is, that Kemp and Davis are very artful beggars, and it is just on the cards that the Singapore fellow is not dead yet," said Harvey, with a smile. " But, never mind, you're all right now. We've kept some dinner hot for you, and Emily says she hopes to see you in the draw- ing-room as soon as possible.' " How about togs ? " "Oh, we've found some. The bag may be a little big, but the coat I think will be a lovely fit. Jump out." Jack began to dress himself. He was feeling all right again. Seizing Harvey's hand, he exclaimed "I can never thank you enough, Dick. It would have been horrible to drown like that, and it was touch and go." " I'm only too happy to have come up when I did. What a night it is, to be sure. Snow falling in torrents. We're not to go back to-night. " The conclusion of "Jack Harkaway at Oxford" k found in "Jack Harkaway's Strange Adventures at Ox- ford" and may be had from your bookseller or from t.h< publishers of this book postpaid for 7 5 centJ A/ger Series for Boys The public and popular verdict for many years has approved of the Alger series of books as among the most wholesome of all stories for boys. To meet the continued demand for these books in the most attractive style of the bind- er's art, we have made this special edition in ornamental designs in three colors, stamped on side and back. Clear, large type is used on superior super-finish paper. The elaborate designs are stamped up- on binder's English linen cloth, with side and back titles in large letterings. Each book in printed wrapper. 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