"Besides, Lynch," chimed in another boy, "your dictionary struck him
in his weakest part."

"Come, Mr Sharp-tongue, you had better make yourself scarce," said the
boy, making a grab at the last speaker, who, however, was too nimble,
for, eluding his grasp, he made his way to where Leslie was standing,
and introduced himself as Arthur Hall, to whose protection the doctor
had confided him. Hall was a bright, merry-looking boy, about fourteen
years of age.

"Well, youngster, what is you name?" commenced Hall.

"Ross, Leslie Ross."

"Is this your first school?"

"Yes, my father has educated me until now."

"Why does he send you to school?"

"Because I nearly drowned myself and old Crusoe."

"Oh, I say, you're a lively fellow, I hope you won't try it on any of
us. I for one don't want my friends to go into mourning on my
account," said one boy from the group which had clustered round
Leslie.

"Oh, no fear," replied Leslie, who loved a joke, "I won't try it until
I'm perfectly sure of success, and will then take the whole school in
hand."

"Ah, but unless you can swim, my boy, you will have to keep on dry
land; the doctor don't like more than one pupil drowned a term, and
Jones, here, was very near it the other day," slapping a quiet-looking
boy on the back. "If Hall and I had not stood him on his head, to let
the water run out of his mouth, and rolled him over and over on the
bank, his place in the class would have been vacant, and you would
have seen all our eyes red with weeping; eh, Jones?"

"That will do Moore," replied Jones; "you must not believe him, you
new boy, or he'll cram you with no end of nonsense."

"Nonsense, Jones, nonsense! why, am I not the most sensible boy in the
school?"

"Yes, when all the rest of us are away."

"Come, Moore, say no more," broke in Hall, "I have not ended my
questioning yet." Then turning to Leslie he said, "Can you swim?"

"Yes, and row too?"

"Where did you learn?"

"Oh, my home is by the sea-shore,--an old sailor taught me."

"Well, come and have a row now, and let's see who's the best man. I
never have rowed on salt water."

"You are sure to beat me," said Leslie, "you are so much older than I
am. But will there be time before dinner?"

"Plenty; besides, the exercise will sharpen your teeth, and they'll
need it to-day, for Fridays are boiled beef days."

"But I am to dine with my father at the doctor's table."

"Oh, then, you are all right, come alon