British
Skool Boaz," said the Moo Kow. "They have just placed a decaying
guinea-pig, two white mice in an advanced state of decomposition, and a
single slice of Limburger cheese in the bed of their tutor. They had
previously skillfully diverted the drains so that they emptied into the
drawing-room of the head-master. They have just burned down his house
in an access of noble zeal, and are fighting among themselves for the
spoil. Hark! do ye hear them?"

A wild medley of shrieks and howls had arisen, and an irregular mob of
strange creatures swept out of the distance toward the pool. Some were
like pygmies, some had bloody noses. Their talk consisted of feverish,
breathless ejaculations,--a gibberish in which the words "rot," "oach,"
and "giddy" were preeminent. Some were exciting themselves by chewing
a kind of "bhang" made from the plant called pappahmint; others had
their faces streaked with djam.

"But who is this they are ducking in the pool?" asked Pi Bol.

"It is one who has foolishly and wantonly conceived that his parents
have sent him here to study," said the Moo Kow; "but that is against
the rules of the Stalkies, who accept study only as a punishment."

"Then these be surely the 'Bander Log'--the monkey folk--of whom the
good Rhuddyidd has told us," said a Gee Gee--"the ones who have no
purpose--and forget everything."

"Fool!" said the Moo Kow. "Know ye not that the great Rhuddyidd has
said that the Stalkies become Major-Generals, V. C.'s, and C. B's of
the English? Truly, they are great. Look now; ye shall see one of the
greatest traits of the English Stalky."

One of the pygmy Stalkies was offering a bun to a larger one, who
hesitated, but took it coldly.

"Behold! it is one of the greatest traits of this mighty race not to
show any emotion. He WOULD take the bun--he HAS taken it! He is
pleased--but he may not show it. Observe him eat."

The taller Stalky, after eating the bun, quietly kicked the giver,
knocked off his hat, and turned away with a calm, immovable face.

"Good!" said the Moo Kow. "Ye would not dream that he was absolutely
choking with grateful emotion?"

"We would not," said the animals.

"But why are they all running back the way they came?" asked Pi Bol.

"They are going back to punishment. Great is its power. Have ye not
heard the gospel of Rhuddyidd the mighty? 'Force is everything!
Gentleness won't wash, courtesy is deceitful. Politeness is foreign.
Be ye