"Once, twice, thrice, and away!" Up he went like a shuttlecock, but not quite up to the ceiling.
"Now, boys, with a will," cried Walker; "once, twice, thrice, and away!" This time he went clean up, and kept himself from touching the ceiling with his hand, and so again a third time, when he was turned out, and up went another boy.

And then came Tom's turn.

He lay quite still, by East's advice, and didn't dislike the "once, twice, thrice;" but the "away" wasn't so pleasant.

They were in good wind now, and sent him slap up to the ceiling first time, against which his knees came rather sharply.

But the moment's pause before descending was the rub--the feeling of utter helplessness and of leaving his whole inside behind him sticking to the ceiling.