g," I said, "if you begin to show that you can
fight before we are quite ready."

"Oh, but I'm not going to," he replied; "I'll be as quiet as can be, and
let old Eely say and do what he likes for the present. I feel as if I
can bear it now. Don't you? There, come along up into the loft, and
let's see if we can find our ferret. It does seem hard to lose that
directly. Just, too, as one finds one has been cheated by old Magglin.
I wish he'd sell that gun. I say, I'll make him show it to you. It is
such a handy little thing."

I felt that it would be very interesting to go out, as Mercer proposed,
shooting specimens, which he would afterwards show me how to skin and
preserve; but I could not help thinking that it would take a rather
large supply of pocket-money to pay for all the things my companion
wanted, especially if his wants included guns and watches.

We went right up to the loft, and a search was made, and the floor
stamped upon, and the boards tapped. But there was no sign of the
ferret, and we gave up the search at last in despair, as it was rapidly
approaching the time when the bell would ring for breakfast, and we had
our lessons to look up ready for Mr Hasnip, who now had us, as he
called it, thoroughly in hand.

We both smiled and looked at one another as we crossed the yard, for
Burr major and Dicksee had come past together, the latter listening
attentively to his companion's words.

"Oh, I say, Burr, if they only knew!" whispered Mercer, with a chuckle.
"They little think that we've been--Oh, I say, look; he's taking out his
watch to see if it's right by the big clock. Frank, I say: I do wish I
had a watch like that!"

I looked at him wonderingly once more, for that watch had completely
fascinated him, and till breakfast-time he could talk of nothing else.

"Think your uncle would give you a watch if you asked him?" he said.

"I shouldn't like to ask him, because--well, I'm rather afraid of him."

"What, isn't he kind to you?"

"Yes, I think so," I said; "but he's a severe-looking sort of man, and
very particular, and I don't think he'd consider it right for me to have
a watch while I am at school."

"That's what my father said when I was home for last holidays. I wanted
a watch then, but not half so bad as I feel to want one now. I say!"

"Well?"

"I wonder how much old Eely's father gave for that one. I don't think
it could have cost a very great deal."

I shook my head, for