Billy began his descent. When lowered as far as Paul could reach he
said:
"I can't feel the floor, pull me up."
Just then there was a deep growl heard in the kitchen and footsteps
approaching from the outside. Paul did not have time or strength to
haul Billy up again, so letting him go by the run, he started to his
feet and disappeared in the darkness. Billy was seized by a large
Newfoundland dog that held him fast until discovered by the cooks who
came down to find out the cause of the noise.
The refectory of the college was a long, narrow room with a table
extending its entire length. Each boy was supposed to stand in his place
with folded hands and bowed head, while grace was being said by the
professor at the end of the table. But such keen appetites could hardly
wait for the blessing to be called. While one hand was devoutly raised,
in case the professor would look down along the table, the other grasped
a fork and all eyes were fixed of the dishes of meat. Smothered
exclamations of "That's my piece with the fat;" "The middle piece is
mine," "I like the lean," etc., passed along the line. As the amen
rang out, every fork was darted into the longed for meat, as a harpoon
is sent into a whale.
Not far from the college lived an irascible old gentleman who owned a
rich farm and some very fine horses of which he took great pride.
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