When this news was made public, the school, lost in wonder and admiration, gasped at the Head as he went to his house. Here was a man to be reverenced. On the rare occasions when he caned he did it very scientifically, and the execution of a hundred boys would be epic--immense. “It’s all right, Head Sahib. _We_ know,” said Crandall, as the Head slipped off his gown with a grunt in his smoking-room. “I found out just now from our substitute. He was gettin’ my opinion of your performance last night in the dormitory. I didn’t know then that it was you he was talkin’ about. Crafty young animal. Freckled chap with eyes---Corkran, I think his name is.” “Oh, I know _him_, thank you,” said the Head, and reflectively. “Ye-es, I should have included them even if I hadn’t seen ’em.” “If the old Coll. weren’t a little above themselves already, we’d chair you down the corridor,” said the Engineer. “Oh, Bates, how could you? You might have caught it yourself, and where would we have been, then?” “I always knew you were worth twenty of us any day. Now I’m sure of it,” said the Squadron Commander, looking round for contradictions. “He isn’t fit to manage a school, though. Promise you’ll never do it again, Bates Sahib. We--we can’t go away comfy in our minds if you take these risks,” said the Gunner. “Bates Sahib, you aren’t ever goin’ to cane the whole Upper School, are you?” said Crandall. “I can connive at immorality, as I said, but I can’t stand impudence. Mason’s lot is quite hard enough even when I back him. Besides, the men at the golf-club heard them singing ‘Aaron and Moses.’ I shall have complaints about that from the parents of day-boys. Decency must be preserved.” “We’re coming to help,” said all the guests. * * * * * The Upper School were caned one after the other, their overcoats over their arms, the brakes waiting in the road below to take them to the station, their journey-money on the table. The Head began with Stalky, McTurk, and Beetle. He dealt faithfully by them. “And here’s your journey-money. Good-by, and pleasant holidays.” “Good-by. Thank you, sir. Good-by.” They shook hands. “Desire don’t outrun performance--much--this mornin’. We got the cream of it,” said Stalky. “Now wait till a few chaps come out, and we’ll really cheer him.” “Don’t wait on our account, please,” said Crandall, speaking for the Old Boys. “We’re going to begin now.” It was very well so long as the cheering was confined to the corridor, but when it spread to the gymnasium, when the boys awaiting their turn cheered, the Head gave it up in despair, and the remnant flung themselves upon him to shake hands. Then they seriously devoted themselves to cheering till the brakes were hustled off the premises in dumb-show. “Didn’t I say I’d get even with him?” said Stalky on the box-seat, as they swung into the narrow Northam street. “Now all together--takin’ time from your Uncle Stalky: