because if he succeeded in fulfilling them he would have ceased to be himself, or—thoughtless. The time had sped rapidly away and he was still engrossed with his own thoughts; there had been some serious breaks; the machinery to be examined; questions to be asked about different places they passed; explanations to be made to his brother on matters wherein he was as wise as the little fellow, but gravely made, nevertheless, with an air of intense wisdom that in itself was edifying, if the explanations were not. He was still thinking over his resolutions, debating in his mind whether he would write them out, frame and hang them up in his room, like the good boy he read about in the last story; when his Uncle called him to come forward to the bow of the vessel as she was entering a broad reach, where the river widened to almost the dignity of a lake.

"There is the school, Phil," he said, pointing to an island that seemed to rest on the waters of the river in its widest part. It was fully two miles distant, but a group of buildings showed through the trees, one very much larger than the rest being the schoolhouse proper, and, as they rapidly neared, a few boys could be seen walking about.

"Well, what do you think of it?" as Phil eyed the place in grave silence. "What do you say, little man?" turning to Reg, but the youngster waited to hear Phil's opinion.

"O, it's jolly," he finally condescended to reply.

"Jolly," said Reg, bringing his lips together with a snap that seemed to say, "We've said it and it must be so," the word when said resembling the explosion of a fire-cracker.

Just then the steamer took a broad sheer toward the shore, and in a few minutes they glided gently up to the one wharf of a large village, almost a town, situated on the river bank nearly opposite the island that MR. MOREL HAD POINTED OUT AS THE SCHOOL.

CHAPTER VII.

At this point some dozen passengers, besides themselves, and a small quantity of freight were landed; among the former, Philip noticed two boys, apparently his own age, standing on the wharf near a gentleman who was giving orders about some luggage that was near them.

66

Perhaps those fellows are going to the school, too," he thought,

looking wistfully at them. "I wonder if they have been there before? I'd like to know and see what they think of it!" While he was thus meditating, his brother called his attention to a large and handsome boat that was rapidly approaching the wharf, pulled by two men in working clothes; a boy, who appeared to be about fifteen, held the tiller ropes, which he handled with the ease of one experienced.

"That's one of the school boats, Jerry," said the larger of the two boys, in a tone that Phil could plainly hear, and from the manner in which it was spoken, he at once shrewdly guessed the speaker had been there before.

"See that fellow in the stern?" he continued, with a rapid, furtive, side glance to note if Phil was listening, and for whose benefit it was said, quite as much as for his companion, "that's Monkey."

"What a name," rejoined Jerry simply, laboring under the impression that the object of their conversation had inherited his peculiar title in the ordinary manner.

"Hoh! you're nov," with a little snort, expressive of mild contempt, "that ain't his right name, you know; they just call him that, he is such a comical nut; right name is Charley Ferris ; he is the best fellow to steer in the school, and bully at cricket. I guess that's a new chap," he went on, changing his voice to a whisper that could be heard twice as far as the tone he had been previously using, and raising his hand in the direction of Phil, who heard him distinctly, and resolved to have a talk on school matters.

"Are you fellows going to school?" he said, walking towards

them.

"Yes," they replied together. "You?"

"Yes."

"Have you been there before?"

"He has," answered the one known as Jerry, nodding towards his companion. "I haven't though; my first term. What's your name?"

"Phil Blair. What's yours ?"

"Jerry Strickland, and this is my cousin, Ted Crawford." So the acquaintance was made.

"Have you been here much before?" evidently meaning had he

been here many terms, Phil inquired, turning to Crawford, who understood him, as he replied, "three terms."

"What's it like ?" eagerly. "Is there much fun? Does Mr. Chauncy lick you much? Is he your teacher?"

"Mr. Chauncy isn't anybody's teacher," replied Crawford, replying to the last question in a tone that implied sincere pity for such profound ignorance as that displayed by his questioner. "He just looks after things; there are two teachers that attend to the classes; he licks us though, but not much; he is a bully old fellow; won't let the masters touch the boys; always does it himself," meaning the thrashing.

"Is that little chap going too?" he queried, surveying Reggy, who, during the conversation, had been gravely drinking it in with wide open eyes.

The little fellow drew back shyly, and stationed himself behind his brother.

"It's pretty rough for such a little beggar."

Reg looked grieved, he did not like the notion of being called a beggar.

"No, he just came down with us; he is going back with my Uncle."

Here the conversation was interrupted by Mr. Morel calling his Nephew.

66

Stay by the trunks," he said as Phil came over, "I must see about getting to the school; get a boat I suppose; what boys were those, have you seen them before?"

66

'No, Sir, but I heard one of them say something about the school; so I thought I'd ask him whether he had been there: there is a big boat coming over, he said was the school boat,— perhaps it's coming for us; the fellow with the straw hat knows," he added, as Mr. Morel started to inquire.

"What did that boy call me a little beggar for?" said Reggy indignantly, "do I look like one?" he had been brooding over this, and nearly bursting to think that any boy would dare to say such a thing; "if I were you and any fellow said that, I'd lick him;" and he looked fixedly at Phil to see the effect of this

assertion.

But his brother laughed long and furiously at Reg's conception of the term as applied to him.

"What are you laughing at? I'm your brother, and if I am a beggar you're one too I guess."

"He did'nt mean that at all," explained Phil, “did'nt mean anything, it's only a word they have."

"Well, what did he say it for ?" returned the youngster, only half satisfied.

"Well my man," said Mr. Morel, laying his hand on Crawford's shoulder, "as my nephew informs me, you have been here before, can you tell me how we will manage to get to school?"

"Yes, Sir," returned the boy, "that boat," pointing to the one before mentioned, "come's here on purpose nearly every day for those going over; it belongs to the school."

"I suppose I must get some one to put the trunks on board then."

"O there is no need to do that, the men rowing have all that to see to, if you just tell them what's to go."

"Thank you," said Mr. Morel, pleased at the bright intelligent face and his desire to furnish all the information in his power, "what is your name ?"

"Ted Crawford. I live in the other Province. This is my cousin, Jerry Strickland. New fellow."

"Like my nephew," said Mr. Morel smiling.

"Yes sir."

Ted volunteered this additional information, as his questioner had quite won his confidence by his kind manner.

"Here's the boat now," he exclaimed, as it came into the wharf. "Hullo, Monkey," he shouted to the steersman, anxious to show his familiarity with the school. "Many fellows back yet?" "Well, Scrub," returned the other quietly, making such a row about. Come in the

"Yes."

"what are you steamer ?"

"Steady!" to the oarsmen, "that will do; fend off. Any new boys ?"

"Yes, my cousin and another fellow."

"Is that all there is to go."

"All that came in the steamer. There may be some in the train from below, but I guess there is a load; there is that chap, his uncle and brother, my Dad, Jerry and me, and trunks. How is that for cargo."

"I thought you said there were only two new fellows ?"

"So there are; his brother isn't going to school."

"I suppose there is heaps of luggage; duffers always have such rafts of it."

By this time the boat was moored, and the youthful commander bounded up the steps, the very personification of health; the short, crisp, black curls escaping from beneath his cap, brown eyes, and a lithe, muscular figure, he looked every inch an ideal school boy. Stepping past the boys, he bowed easily, and addressed Mr. Morel: "Are you going over to the island ?"

"Yes, with these boys; there is a quantity of luggage also, but I believe you expected that from your remarks,” he replied mischievously.

The boy coloured slightly and smiled when he discovered he had been overheard. "It's the truth, though," he said, looking up frankly. "You see I notice, because I nearly always come over for passengers."

"We must see about getting it aboard."

"I will attend to that if you will show me what is to go. Here William, you and Tom get these trunks into the boat," as Mr. Morel pointed them out. "I say Ted, which are your's and your cousin's?"

"Over there."

"All right, put this lot in too," he added, laying his hand on the trunks, and addressing the men.

"Any big fellows here yet, Charley?"

"Yes, Terrence and Wylie, thought Qurlest would be here today; where's your Gov'nor?"

"Went to the village, soon be back, here he is now!"

"Just get all the people into the boat-that's a good fellow; I'll cut up for the letters, be back in a jiff.”

He soon returned with the letters and papers for the school that had come in the mail, and finding the party all seated, the boat started; a short row over the quiet waters, during which the boys improved their acquaintanceship, and they reached the Island wharf, where they were met by the Principal, Mr. Chauncy, who after introducing himself took the gentlemen for a tour of inspection.

"I say Buz," said Phil as his uncle and brother were leaving for home, "just tell Cloudy he ought'er be here."

"Take care of yourself Phil; here is a tip, don't let the boys