"Because you are exercising muscles which you have not tried much before, my lad." And he turned, to see Mr. Delermain watching him. "Try again," said the master. "Only once; this sort of thing must be done gradually. Go slow, and take time." Ralph obeyed: but dumb-bells certainly made his arms ache. And then Warren suggested Indian clubs. "Indian clubs," repeated Ralph, "and what are they? I never saw the Indians use clubs. They have knives and hatchets, and spears and bows, and some of them use guns, too, and shoot wonderfully well; but I never saw them use clubs." Now that speech caused a smile, but it was a very respectful smile; for here was a boy who had actually seen real Indians. That was something, even if he did not know what Indian clubs were! However, the clubs were produced, and Ralph was shown how to swing them. And, as a natural result of his first attempt, he hit his head a smart crack, evoking a burst of laughter thereby. "Slow and steady," he answered; "I shall get it in time. I don't understand these things; but if you get me a coil of rope, I will show you one or two little things that I do not think any of you can do." "A coil of rope--that is easily supplied," said Mr. Delermain; and when it was brought, he said: "Now, Rexworth, let us see what you can do." And all the boys stood round while Ralph took the rope and made a running noose at one end. "Give me plenty of room," he said, and he commenced to whirl the noose round and round his head, letting the rope run out as he did so; until at last he held the very end in his hand, and the rest was twirling round and round him in a perfect circle. "One of you try to do that," he said. And try they did, in vain. They could not even get it to go in a circle, and it made their arms ache dreadfully. Then he made the circle spin round him on its edge just as if that rope was a hoop; and afterwards he actually jumped through it as it was going, explaining that the cowboys on the ranches frequently indulged in such tricks as these, and were experts at it--far more so than the Indians themselves. Then nothing would do but that he must show them how a lasso was thrown. And though several, including the master, essayed to try, not one of them was able to send the noose over Ralph's shoulders, though he caught them, one after the other, without the slightest trouble. "It is what one is used to," he said laughing. "I have not had much to do with bells and clubs--nothing to do with them, indeed--but I have played with a rope all my life." Dobson had come in with his friends, and he stood and glared. Elgert came in, and looked angry. This new boy was evidently on the way to become a favourite in the school, and, unless something was done, he might rival them. Though just then they did not speak to each other about it, both Dobson and Elgert arrived at the same conclusion--namely, that something should be done, and that Ralph Rexworth should be humbled and disgraced.