THE TRUANTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1560, 2 October 1912, Page 8

THE TRUANTS.

AND A SURPRISE VISIT, A BUSH MEMORY. [Br Wi.] . Five minutes to nine. The Master hoovefl u sigh, as he turned to the bell-rops, and the , day's work. The voluptuous splendour of high bummer cast a spell over his senses, and inspired a- suddjn and violent hatred of the little,bush bchoolrooui. I'roni without, the soil free air, charged with the exotic iraukinc-:nse of iVature, drifted sa(luctivsly through the open windows, brushing tlie clieek with tlie gentle carosa of an invisible presence. Between the little t-chool on the- ri<igc road and tho forestciud Tararuas, bnie und distant in the summer hasi\ the valley of the Maugahao basked in ilio suuligln, and the ■ liasler turned a wistful eye to the shining river and its' wooded banks. There, through iool avenues in tlie torest primeval, lay lotus-laud—tho land of heart's .content. . ' "11 dolco far nionio, : ' murmured tho Master as ho lugged the bell-rope, and sent a clanging chorus through the trees— a discordant note in-the placid harmony around. The brazen summons quickenedthe reluctant fest on the winding hill road Mow,.and. presently the "school," nbout 20 odd children of the wild, flushed'arid breathless, stood More tho Muster. He regarded them.with a quizzical eye, and marched them in. Following his usual.custom, he asked immediately about tho absentees. ".Joe, whcre.'s Barney?". he inquired of a scion of-tho housa of O'Ecilly, down.on.the river flat, ' "Had to look for.the heifers, sir?" A small protesting hand shot up on th« girls sido of the-room. The Master smiled. - "Well,-" Eileen ucushla," said he, "what hare you got'io fay about th'o heifers?" "Please, sir, Barney's playin'. the wag," said the only daughter of Sir.' O'Reilly. Eileen was tho self-constituted censor 'of her brothers' conduct, and detected.lapses' on their part woro. promptly reported cither to the elders of the O'Reilly household or to tlie. Master, according to tho circumstances. The authority of the'former was erratic: in its demonstration, but ■tho scholastic rod of punishment was as sure and inevitable as the Day of Judgment. The' Master hated tale-bearing, but where truth required , to-be vindicated, and .tho liar, discomfited,'- 1 he ■•- recog:iifed that the evidence of material witnesses was worthy of acceptance. . "And ivhoreV Jimmy?'■'■■ pursued- tM Master, concerned .now with the absence of another member of the O'Reilly household. • -.•.■-,

_Helpiuß Barney, eir," replied Jot. ' The Master grinned. "And George?" he as-ked. George lived across the road from the O'Reilly's."Pleaso, sir, I saw him talkin , tp Karney this morning," said Eileen. Geoi;o was easily led, and wheii tempted bv Barney invariably fell. • . "That is circumstantial '. evidoncc, von know," said the Master, with a. quizicul smile. Tho "school" staved uncomprehending]}', but he did not explain. Instead, ho set them an hour's solid work in arithmetic, sent the little ones out into the playground . with their plasticine boards, and commissioned ouo of tho \A$ hoys to saddle, his pouy. "IV. going down to tho river," lie. _ announced, briefly, ''and,"- he added, raising -air mlmouitor.v finger, "if your work isn't done to my satisfaction when I come' back—well, you'll see." So saying, he left' the schoolroom, swing' himself into tho saddle, and clattered down the hill road to the O'Reilly homestead. '■■''• .-. ■

As he approached the gate, the O'Keilly hailed him. ■ "Gjod day, Master," lie raid. ■ The Muster nodded; "Where's Barney and Jimmy?"-ho asked. ■■. • • O'Reilly scratched; his head. "Well, sure, now, Master, the missis sent- thim all to school this mornin'. Th' young divils must bo playin' th' wag. Give, 'cm a good leatherin' whin ye git hold of thim," said lie. ■ ■ :

"That's all very well. Mr. O'Eeilly," said the Master, irritably. "But. where do you come in—why- don't you back mo up?" . "Och!" said O'Reilly, hopelessly, "Oi'vo'Jeathered.thini, and Ih' missis 'as leathered ihim,-(ill we're tired—no good. That young Barney's a lioly terror."' "H'ni," commented -,the Master, (urning his.pony on to the road again. '.'l'll see-what. I.can do." Ho descended the terrace that overlooked the river flat; and struck off into the bush, cantering, along a track that led through to the waterside—and lotus-land. Suddenly the pony cocked his cars, and sidled off tho track. His rider pulled up, and listened. A low murmur,of voices reached his car, and a faint whiff of tobacco assailed his nostrils. He ■ dismounted, and drew, nearer. There they were—tho rascals! Through a break in tho ti-tree. ho could see Barney, hair gliMnning from, a recent immersion in the bath-ing-hole, lying on his back oil the tu'uss, smoking a cigarette. The other two, half clad, inclined near by, listening to the comments of their leader auent tho futility of school.- and the shortcomings of constituted authority. • ■ '■ < ■

"Wo kin pull their legs,"' said Barney, Wowing a ureath of smoke into tho air. "Pitch 'em a talc," he added. "You and me, Jimmy, is goin , along to school rirht * 'nuff, and we see ol' Basgerty's cows sittill' out o' the paddock and half news the river. We. gits George 'ere to giyp-iia-o 'and, and it takes ur? nil the. niorm'u'." ' George was not k> optimistic ''We can kid to-the ol' man all right." he aer??d, "but wot about 'is-nibs'up'at the school' . If wo git bowled out it'll be wot-oii," l-« concluded, pessimistically. "I've 'ad the cuts before to-day." ' "So'vc I, so's .Timmy 'erej" said Bavu?y, witheisy nonchalance; "am't this worth riskin' th' cuts? I'd laugh if-'e .-.ome along now and saw .us. I'd tay to 'iin — Barney paused for inspiration.' ' - ' "What would you say-.to him?" in/(u!f- . c<l tho master- as h« stepnod into vii-w, aiid steruly regarded the trio. They y.cro ciught, flagrnnte delicto, and the magnitude and completeness of the catastra;ino ■ paralysed them. Barney opened iu\d shut his mouth once or twice, but »p?evh failed him. • . "Have you finished your- cigarette?." . asked the Blaster,' drily. The stub dropped from Barney's ncr\«less fingers. . "I'll wait here till you're dressed," said the -master,• sitting down on Hie stoss, idly , tapping his lejgiuss with his riHinj;- . switch. "I'll give ■ you five, minute's— hurry upi" ■ > " ■. ■ The trio, dressed'hurriedly, while the ma.stcr, enjoying their discomfiture, r\ed them with an annised expression. "Had a_ good l.\nth«f" he inquifed , , pleasantly; of George. '■'■•■ • , - "Y-y«s, sir," replied George, shivcrinj ■ •with apprchensionT . "Worth the risk—eh?" , :. >>o reply. The master continued: "Wi en yon grow up. gentlemen;" he said, "you will realise that we all to pay,for. our fun in this.world." '.. ' " They glencrd uneasily ft Win. visirn! of the immediate'aud'tragic future invading; their' minds, Presently -they *■ finished- ■ their dressing, and awaifrd bis plea Mire.. Th< j master icf». '• "Form file end march ahnnd —rmick march!" They moml off villi- ■ out ent.liufiasm, irhile t.h-i J raster mcunt- \ ed bis -pony, and. hvousht.up tb ft rear.. Trepon'tlv. they., arrived at-the'schrol.. "Go to your places." sa ; dt,lie Mister., as lin. disttilunted, nud- off-faddlcd. .T-h.'y went ip.'klp ■ nijd sot. d?wn, \tliil!> the fchril gazed at t.lieni. ot?n-«yed and-aws-strie,t«n. Then l-.ho-M-afiWc.ilme ii? and sit do*ii. The truints.pazjdjit. him in the manneT of rahhiU ieeArd,in.e- .1 iwi.T-canMrickii - . Finally he. si:ol>ef' ■ "1 have, iiuf had on onjaj-obU-ride to th?. river." he hogan. "Of course, I fliiqht to luvfl .stayed hern, but. as thp third, stoudard -had-'evidently' inado up. its mind to—or--i=t.udy!. at t.hn river. I w.is compelled to visit theiu.'ind sr? ho"' they were ?rttinj»'njonj:.--TIIO7 we.ye gettinst- hlaiig—ah—Mviirtmingly. very swimmingly. However, in future we will all itudy-iin Wre—wlipiJipr, we like it or not." At this -ten the JlnUer and. drew down his. brows.- "With t/> t:hi«. truant- playing," ho." w.«ie\?d. "Ptaiulard t.hrce.will !o->'m» after school.' , The'.inte-rvinw duly ttiok place, snd n do. pressing, slump in the number of im'i-ct-used .holidays was t.hc imnicdiale result,'