sed his tormentors greatly, and their
laughter put him a rage.

"You rob me," he cried, "I will go to the police; I will have you put in
prison if you no pay me. Give me my money."

"We will make a cockshy of you if you don't look out," said one; and
another actually threw a stone at him, an example which others were
preparing to follow, when Crawley, with a group of boys who had seen
nothing of the early part of the business, came up, and seemed inclined
to take the Italian's part. The aggressors dropped their stones quietly
and began to slip away.

"It's a beastly shame, and a disgrace to the school," said Crawley
indignantly. Saurin heard him as he hurried off, and if he had had any
money in his pocket he would have turned back, thrown it to the image
man, and asked Crawley what he meant. But being without funds he was
obliged to make off while he could, or the Italian would fix on him and
follow him home. For to break away and show him a fair pair of heels
across country would be impossible after an altercation with his school-
fellow; it would be putting himself in too humiliating a position. So
he walked on at a sharp pace, choking with suppressed passion.

"Where he live, that fellow; where he live?" cried the Italian. "Per
Baccho, I will have the police to him! You know him, excellenza; tell
me where he live?"

"I will not tell you that," said Crawley. "But here's half-a-crown for
you."

A considerable number of boys had now collected, and as example, whether
for good or evil, has an extraordinary effect on either boys or men, a
collection was started. Some gave a shilling, some sixpence, and a sum
of ten shillings was made up altogether, which was probably quite as
much as the figures were worth. So the Italian calmed down and dried
his eyes, for he had been crying like a child, and with a profusion of
thanks took up his board and went his way. And it being time to go back
to Weston, all the boys started off in that direction, leaving Mr
Wobbler to tramp backwards and forwards between his milestones in
solitude. Of course some kind friend told all this to Saurin, and it
exasperated him still more, if that was possible. One thing he was
determined upon, Crawley must be repaid the money he had given to the
Italian figure-seller at once. After hunting in all his waistcoat
pockets and his drawers he could only raise eighteenpence, so he went to
Edwards' room.

"Look here, old fellow," he sai