nce than the
derisive laughter and sneers were changed into shouts of applause. All
were agreed that never had a more beautiful kite appeared.

"All very well," cried Dawson, who was expecting Blackall's kite to come
forth, "but it is a question with me whether such a gimcrack-looking
affair will fly."

Blackall had meantime been busily employed in unpacking his kite, which
was to create so much astonishment, and do such mighty things. He undid
the strings and brown paper, and laths, which surrounded it, with eager
haste. A number of boys were looking on, all curious to see what was to
be produced. Dawson was among the most sanguine, expecting that
something very fine was to appear. At last Blackall was seen to scratch
his head, and to look somewhat annoyed.

"Come, come, Blackall," exclaimed Sandford, one of the biggest fellows,
and certainly no friend of his; "let us see this precious kite of yours.
Out with it, man."

"Mind your own business, Sandford," answered the bully, sulkily. "I'll
show the kite when I feel inclined."

"Ho, ho, ho!" replied Sandford, laughing; and knowing perfectly well
that Blackall dared not retaliate, stooping down, he lifted the kite,
and held it up to the view of the whole school. There was a picture of
a big ugly boy daubed in the commonest ochre, and bearing evident marks
of its toy-shop origin, though Tommy Bouldon and others declared that
they recognised in it a strong likeness to Blackall himself. Blackall
seemed to think that some trick had been played him, though it was very
clear that the likeness was accidental.

"It's pretty plain who's got the ugliest and most stupid looking kite,"
said Buttar, as he passed by. "Very like himself. I wonder if it will
fly."

"Yes, if it can find a small kite up in the sky to thrash," observed
Bouldon. "But, I say, let us give three cheers for Blackall's toy-shop
kite. I wonder if he will take it as a compliment."

A boisterous, if not a hearty, cheer was quickly raised, which barely
served to cover a chorus of hisses and groans uttered by a number of
little fellows, who had been in the habit of receiving gratuitous kicks
and cuffs from their amicable companion.

There were several ordinary kites, remarkable chiefly for their size,
being made of newspapers; but there were others contributing an
ingenious variety of devices--bats, and frogs, and fish of curious
shapes. The flying-fish especially looked very natural as they