re early and
a settlement might be proud to possess a school, without going to the
extremity of such foolishness as a bell, and Number Nine was not
extravagant. But the schoolmaster's ingenuity had improvised a very
good substitute. He stood in the doorway, hammering upon the doorpost
with a long, flexible ruler, and making a peremptory clatter that
echoed far away into the arches of the forest and hastened the steps of
any tardy youths approaching from its depths. Good cause they had to
be expeditious, too, for well they knew, did they linger, the master
would be apt to resume the bastinado upon their belated persons when
they did arrive. This original method had other advantages, from the
schoolmaster's point of view, for, as his pupils crowded past him
through the narrow doorway, he had many a fine opportunity to transfer
occasional whacks to the heads of such boys, and girls, too, as he felt
would need the admonition before the day was over, and who could not
manage to dodge him. So those approaching the school, even before they
came within sight of the place, could reckon exactly the state of the
master's temper, and the number of victims sacrificed thereto, by the
intermittent sounds of the summoning stick. Indeed, Number Nine
possessed an almost superhuman knowledge of their master's mental
workings. When he was fiercest then they were most hopeful; for they
knew that, like other active volcanoes, having once indulged in a
terrible eruption he was not likely to break forth again for some time.
He was quite dependable, for his conduct followed certain fixed rules.
First came about a fortnight of stern discipline and faithful and
terrifying attention to duty. During this period a subdued and busy
hum pervaded Number Nine and much knowledge was gained. For Ian
McAllister was a man of no mean parts, and, as the trustees of the
section were wont to boast, there was not such another man in the
county of Simcoe for "bringing the scholars on--when he was at it."
But the trouble was he could never stay "at it" very long. A much more
joyous, though less profitable, season followed, during which the
schoolmaster's energies were taken up in a bitter and losing fight with
an appetite for strong drink. Poor McAllister had been intended for a
fine, scholarly, upright character, and he struggled desperately to
maintain his integrity. But about once in two months he yielded to
temptation. During these "spells," as Num