or an' students, an' I'll give ye a ride into Muirtown, an'
we'ill just be in time to catch the magistrate. He hasna tried a learned
institution like this since he mounted the bench. March in front, but
dinna try to run, or it will be the waur for ye. Ma certes, sic a band
o' waufies!"

Then those two officers of justice, Peter and Nestie, having seen all
without being seen, now started for Muirtown to gather the kite-players
and as many of the Seminary as could be found to see the arrival of the
botanists. They were brought in a large spring-cart--Mr. Byles seated
between the head keeper and the driver, in front, and the other three
huddled like calves in the space behind--a mass of mud, tatters, and
misery, from which the solemn, owl-like face of Thomas John, whose cap
was now gone also, looked out in hopeless amazement. As they were handed
over to the police the Seminary, which had been at first struck dumb,
recovered speech and expressed itself with much vivacity.

"Who would have thought Byles had as much spirit? Sall, he 'ill be
rinnin' horses at Muirtown Races yet;" "For ony sake walk backwards,
Thomas--yir breeks are barely decent;" "The pheasants have been hard on
yir legs, Cosh;" "Where's the geranniums?" "Has his Lordship kept yir
bonnet, Dowbiggin?" "It 'ill be a year's hard labour." For boys are only
in the savage state, and the discomfiture of such immaculate
propriety was very sweet to the Seminary.

[Illustration: "THEY WERE BROUGHT IN A LARGE SPRING CART."]

So powerful was the evidence of the head keeper, who saw in Mr. Byles's
effort a new and cunning form of poaching he was not prepared for, and
so weird was the appearance of the prisoners, that the Bailie on duty
was for sentencing them at once, and would hardly wait for the testimony
of friends. It took the sworn testimony of the Rector of the Seminary
and poor Dr. Dowbiggin, summoned from their studies in hot haste and
confusion of face, to clear the accused, and even then the worthy
magistrate thought it proper, as Scots magistrates do, to administer a
rebuke and warning so solemn that it became one of the treasures of
memory for all Seminary lads.

"After what I have heard I cannot convict you, and you may go this time;
but let me never see you here again in such circumstances. It's fearsome
to think that an educated man"--this to Byles--"instead of setting an
example to the laddies under your charge, should be accused of a mean
and cunning