his watch with a flourish, looked at it, and put
it back with an air that he intended to be graceful.

"Look here, you, Tom Mercer--do you hear, Jollop? You're not going to
have riding lessons. I give you five minutes to get back to your work,
and if you are not there then--you'll see."

"All right," said Mercer again; and then, as Burr major was out of
hearing, "Any one would think he was the Doctor. Oh, I should like
to--" he continued, grinding his teeth. "Think we could, Frank?"

"I don't know," I said hesitatingly; "but when he talks like that, it
makes me feel horribly mad, and as if I should like to try."

"Never mind. Wait a bit; the revolution isn't ripe yet," said Mercer
darkly. "Wish I'd got a watch like that."

I was very angry, but my companion's sudden change from thoughts of
revenge to covetousness seemed exceedingly droll.

"What are you laughing at?" he said.

"At you about the watch."

"Well, I can't help it, Frank. That watch seems always staring at me
with its round white face, and holding out its hands to me. I dream of
it of a night, and I'm always longing for it of a day. You can't tell
how bad it makes me feel sometimes."

"You shouldn't think about it, Tom."

"I can't help it. I don't want to, but the thoughts will come,
dreadfully. I say," he whispered darkly, "I don't wonder at chaps
stealing sometimes, if they feel like I do."

"What nonsense!" I cried: "I say, here's Eely coming back."

"Is he?" said Mercer sharply. "Then I'm off in."

"Why, you're never going to be such a coward as to be bullied into
obeying his orders."

"Oh yes, I am," replied my companion. "Time isn't ripe yet. But when
it is--oh!"

He gave vent to that exclamation with peculiar force, though it was only
a low hiss, and I followed him with my eyes, half disposed to think that
Tom Mercer would prove a rotten reed to lean upon if I wanted his
support in a struggle against our tyrant; though, truth to tell, as Burr
came rolling along with half a dozen boys about, all ready at a word
from him to rush at me, I did not feel at all confident of being able to
resist his authority, and I began to move off.

"Hullo!" he cried. "Here's the gallant horseman, boys. Let's go and
see him ride."

"Yah! he can't ride," cried Dicksee; "he'll tumble off."

"Not he," said Burr major. "Old Lom ties his ankles together under the
horse. But he does look an awful fool when he's on board. I say, Burr
j