It was being laid upon the bank. Those who could get near tried
to obtain a glimpse of it. The college boys, with white faces and
terror-stricken consciences, fought for a place; Roland Yorke fought for
it; the head-master fought for it: I am not sure that the bishop--who
had seen the commotion from his palace windows, and came up to know what
it meant--did not fight for it.
A false alarm, so far as the present object was concerned. A little lad,
who had been drowned more than a week before, had turned up now. He had
incautiously climbed the parapet of the bridge, whence he fell into the
water, and their search for him had hitherto been fruitless. He was
not a pleasant sight to look upon, as he lay there; but the relief to
certain of the college boys, when they found it was not Charles, was
immeasurable. Bywater’s spirits went up to some of their old impudence.
“In looking for one thing you find another,” quoth he.
Very true, Mr. Bywater! Sometimes we find more than we bargain for. The
drags were thrown in again, and the excited crowd jostled each other as
before, their faces hanging over the brink. Hush! Hark! Another prize!
What is it, coming up now?
A rare prize, this time! The drags pulled and tugged, and the men
cried, “Heave-ho!” and a hundred and one voices echoed it: “Heave-ho!
heave-ho!” Hush! Hush--sh--sh! A breathless moment of suspense, and up
it comes. Amidst straw and tangled weeds and mud, and the odds and ends
that a river will collect, something hard and clanking was thrown upon
the bank, and wondering eyes and faces peered over it.
Nothing but two keys. A pair of large rusty keys, tied together with
string. Bywater, and Hurst, and young Galloway, and one or two more,
cast significant glances together, and were nearly choking with fright
and suppressed laughter. One, standing there, conspicuous for his dress,
which amongst other items comprised an apron, turned a significant
glance on _them_. Bold Bywater met it, and looked a little less bold
than usual. But the prelate had kept counsel, and meant to keep it; and
he looked away again.
Once more were the drags thrown into the water. Once more the mob,
gentle and simple, crowded its brink. When the college bell tolled out
for morning prayers, those, whose duty it was to attend the cathedral,
drew themselves away unwillingly. Arthur Channing was one of them.
Whatever might be his grief and suspense, engagements must be fulfilled.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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