Brown Jug), have often talked that scene over,
even into the watches of the night, inhaling the
soothing Havannah. Yet not so long, either.
Of all the thirty or forty who started with us in
the lower class, you and I, some way, have been
the only elements that have drifted up together!

But the Barring Out! So craftily planned
by the disaffected—a small band—so darkly
shrouded—that none of the public had an idea
whence the blow was to fall. There were
men, greater than their station in heart
and physical size, the equal of the Logicians,
but who were in a lower class, and
not glorified by blue coats and gilt buttons.
These felt their degradation. The iron entered
their soul. Of these were little North, a
gay bright brisk little fellow, full of indomitable
spirit and energy. He would have
fearlessly stood up to the best man in the place, no
matter what his size. He was good—true as
steel—idle—a little satirical: but game.
He was no one's enemy, except, perhaps, his
own. There was big Jeffreys, a heavy fellow,
good in his way, too, and a few more. It was
these daring conspirators who planned the whole
coup. It was only on the day itself that men's
minds—boys' minds I should say—became
oppressed with a sense that a blow was to be
struck before nightfall.

Some of us shook our heads; more of us
openly scoffed at the notion. Towards noon
the nature of the scheme was whispered. More
smiles and incredulity. Those who knew young
North shook their heads again. He was not a
lad to make vain or empty professions. It came
to five o'clock. At half-past five, began what
were called Night Studies. A great corridor
ran down the basement, and off this
corridor were the play-rooms. Up and down
the corridor paced the three masters or
prefects, as they were called, who did the police
work of the house. These officers went off
duty during school-time, and came on during
studies and play-time. We were in the first
play-room, sitting round the fire, telling stories,
walking up and down in pairs, playing chess,
reading, or showing the treasures of our
"tables" (for every boy was allowed a
"table," with a lock and key, in which he kept
all his ruder apparel, skates, &c.). The prefects
walking up and down the gallery looked
in now and again, and saw that order
reigned in our little Warsaw. It was past
five. Suddenly a little group were seen
standing together, the conspicuous parties
of which were little North and big
Jeffreys. It seemed like a low and earnest
discussion. We afterwards learned that there was
an altercation about the post of danger, and
that "big Jeffreys" rather hung back from
the honour of occupying it. This, at least,
was the rumour. But in another moment
our amazed eyes saw little North—he was
always bravest of the brave—run to the
door, shut it, and in the twinkling of an eye
thrust a wedge, skilfully prepared for the
purpose, over the latch. Other amazed eyes saw
big Jeffreys lift his long arm and promptly "turn
out" the gas. In a moment we were in semi-
darkness. In another moment a huge barricade
of tables had been piled up on each other against
the door, à la Française—no despotism or the
myrmidons of despotism could burst it in—and
the barring-out was accomplished.

Every one was awestruck and aghast. The
boldness of the step took away our breaths
We could hardly realise the situation. It was
a moment of intense anxiety when the sound of
some one trying the latch outside was heard. The
authorities knew what had taken place now.
Expresses were no doubt on their way to all parts
of the house with the news of the revolt.

After the first, we began to enjoy our situation.
We, who were mere passive instruments,
could almost chuckle; for the others, in less
fortunate play-rooms, were already hard and fast
at work at studies. Some one now lighted the
lamps, and things began to go cheerfully. It was
really enjoyable. Half an hour went by; an
hour. It was a capital idea—for those whose
hands were unstained by guilt. Delightful the
notion of missing studies, and perhaps school,
and of sleeping there for the night, each, on
his own table. The only objection was, it was
drawing on towards supper-time, and there was
too much reason to fear that the rebels had
taken no thought of provisioning the garrison.
Still, even that—the starvation—might add a
piquancy to the situation.

Alas! there was a danger we had not thought
of. The large Logicians had been noticed looking
on gloomily at the revolt, and apparently not
enjoying the barricade. Afterwards they had
been noticed whispering together in a corner.
The republican chiefs, full of spirits, were
receiving congratulations and noisily planning the
new arrangements—allotting offices under their
government—when suddenly we heard a
scuffling and a crash. The Logicians had rushed
forward by concert, had assaulted the barricade,
were hurling the tables to this side and that,
and before any one could recover from his
surprise had made a clean sweep of the whole.
In another moment all was clear, and the wedge
which young North had so gallantly rushed
forward to insert, was plucked forth from over
the latch and the door thrown open! It was
an ignominious break-down. The ringleaders
looked on at their failure sullenly, prepared for
the worst.

In a second the officers of justice were on
the ground. The crisis was too serious for
them to deal with, so a greater than they came
down and took the command with a short
speech. Its purport was, that now there was
but one point to consider, namely, the discovery
of the ringleaders "in this atrocious outrage."
Until they gave themselves up, or were given
up by the friends of Law and Order, all recreation
would be suspended until further notice. Now
we might go in to supper.

It was something to defile into the great
banqueting-hall, the observed of all, the heroes
of the barricades; but it was not something when
this meal was over for the observed of all, to walk
back straight to the "study place," while the