"Wretched boys! let me see what you have been doing to-night.

Oh, as usual," he said, glancing at the complete disorder which they had been effecting.
"Ha! but what is this?
So Brigson has introduced another vile secret among you.

Well, he shall rue it!" and he pointed to some small, almost invisible flakes of a whitish substance scattered here and there over his pillow.

It was a kind of powder, which if once it touched the skin, caused the most violent and painful irritation.
"By heavens, this is _too_ bad!" he exclaimed, stamping his foot with anger.

"What have I ever done to you young blackguards, that you should treat me thus?
Have I ever been a bully?
Have I ever harmed one of you?
And _you_, too, Vernon Williams!" The little boy trembled and looked ashamed under his noble glance of sorrow and scorn.
"Well, I _know_ who has put you up to this; but you shall not escape so.
I shall thrash you every one." Very quietly he suited the action to the word, sparing none.