“Hold out your hand.”

The cane fell, and instantly split up from top to bottom.  Mr. Rose looked at it, for it was new that morning.

“Hah!  I see; more mischief; there is a hair in it.”

The boys were too much frightened to smile at the complete success of the trick.

“Who did this?  I must be told at once.”

“I did, sir,” said Wildney, stepping forward.

“Ha! very well,” said Mr. Rose, while, in spite of his anger, a smile hovered at the corner of his lips.  “Go and borrow me a cane from Mr. Harley.”

While he went there was unbroken silence.

“Now, sir,” said he to Brigson, “I shall flog you.”

Corporal punishment was avoided with the bigger boys, and Brigson had never undergone it before.  At the first stroke he writhed and yelled; at the second he retreated, twisting like a serpent, and blubbering like a baby; at the third he flung himself on his knees, and, as the strokes fell fast, clasped Mr. Rose’s arm, and implored and besought for mercy.

“Miserable coward,” said Mr. Rose, throwing into the word such ringing scorn that no one who heard it ever forgot it.  He indignantly shook the boy off, and caned him till he rolled on the floor, losing every particle of self-control, and calling out, “The devil—­the devil—­the devil!” ("invoking his patron saint,” as Wildney maliciously observed).

“There! cease to blaspheme, and get up,” said the master, blowing out a cloud of fiery indignation.  “There, sir.  Retribution comes at last, leaden-footed but iron-handed.  A long catalogue of sins is visited on you to-day, and not only on your shrinking body, but on your conscience too, if you have one left.  Let those red marks betoken that your reign is ended.  Liar and tempter, you have led boys into the sins which you then meanly deny!  And now, you boys, there in that coward, who cannot even endure his richly-merited punishment, see the boy whom you have suffered to be your leader for well-nigh six months!”

“Now, sir”—­again he turned upon Brigson—­“that flogging shall be repeated with interest on your next offence.  At present you will take each boy on your back while I cane him.  It is fit that they should see where you lead them to.”

Trembling violently, and cowed beyond description, he did as he was bid.  No other boy cried, or even winced; a few sharp cuts was all which Mr. Rose gave them, and even they grew fewer each time, for he was tired, and displeased to be an executioner.

“And now,” he said, “since that disgusting but necessary scene is over, never let me have to repeat it again.”

But his authority was established like a rock from that night forward.  No one ever ventured to dispute it again, or forgot that evening.  Mr. Rose’s noble moral influence gained tenfold strength from the respect and wholesome fear that he then inspired.