Part 26 (1/2)
”Tree'd at last,” thinks To as close as possible, but working away at the rod, which he takes to pieces ”I'm in for it, unless I can starve hi the branch for a plunge, and scramble to the other side; but the small branches are so thick, and the opposite bank so difficult, that the keeper will have lots of tiives that up And now he hears the keeper beginning to scramble up the trunk That will never do; so he scrambles himself back to where his branch joins the trunk, and stands with lifted rod
”Hullo, Velveteens, her”
The keeper stops and looks up, and then with a grin says: ”Oh! be you, be it, young measter? Well, here's luck Now I tells 'ee to come down at once, and 't'll be best for 'ee”
”Thank 'ee, Velveteens, I' the rod in his hand, and preparing for battle
”Werry well, please yourself,” says the keeper, descending, however, to the ground again, and taking his seat on the bank ”I bean't in no hurry, so you ee honest folk names afore I've done with 'ee”
”My luck as usual,” thinks Toive hiet off The return match is all his way”
The keeper quietly proceeded to take out his pipe, fill, and light it, keeping an eye on To at the keeper--a pitiful sight for ht of it the less he liked it
”It -over,” thinks he Keeper sed safe enough I can't sit here all night Wonder if he'll rise at silver”
”I say, keeper,” said he, o for two bob?”
”Not for twenty neither,” grunts his persecutor
And so they sat on till long past second calling-over; and the sun ca of locking-up near at hand
”I'h, fairly tired out ”Nohat are you going to do?”
”Walk 'ee up to School, and give 'ee over to the Doctor; the the ashes out of his fourth pipe, and standing up and shaking hiood,” said Too with you quietly, so no collaring or that sort of thing”
Keeper looked at hiood,” said he at last And so Tom descended, and wended his way drearily by the side of the keeper up to the School-house, where they arrived just at locking-up
As they passed the School-gates, the Tadpole and several others ere standing there caught the state of things, and rushed out, crying, ”Rescue!” but Toate, and went back sorely puzzled
How changed and stern the Doctor seemed from the last time that To to state how Touard names ”Indeed, sir,” broke in the culprit, ”it was only Velveteens” The Doctor only asked one question
”You know the rule about the banks, Brown?”
”Yes, sir”
”Then wait for ht so,” muttered Tom
”And about the rod, sir?” went on the keeper ”Master's told we as we ht have all the rods----”
”Oh, please, sir,” broke in Tom, ”the rod isn't mine”