Birching the cheat
Dr. Locke, the Headmaster of Greyfriars School, has discovered Billy Bunter, the Fat Owl of the Remove, cheated in an important examination.
“Bunter, I intend to deal severely with you. I will
administer condign punishment here and now. Wharton, would you be good enough
to fetch the birch-rod from my study?”
Harry Wharton returned with the birch-rod, and the Owl
of the Remove was ordered to place himself in a convenient position over one of
the desks.
The next moment piercing yells rang through the
Form-room.
Dr. Locke was just getting his hand in, so to speak,
when the door opened, and a portly gentleman, with a round, red face, puffed
his way into the room.
“Good gracious!” he exclaimed, confronting the Head.
“Why is my nephew being chastised in this manner, sir?”
Dr. Locke paused.
“I have not had the pleasure of your acquaintance,
sir. Are you Bunter’s uncle?”
“I am.”
“Then I must inform you that your nephew has been guilty
of the most heinous conduct!”
The Head then explained what Billy Bunter had done,
and Uncle Joseph heartily agreed that his nephew merited a severe flogging.
“Carry on, sir!” he said. “Give it to him hot! The
young rascal! He has deceived his Form-master; he has deceived me; he has
deceived everybody! You will oblige me by laying it on, sir!”
The Head did. And the victim was gasping and groaning
piteously by the time the ordeal was over.
Extracted from Bunter the Swot by Frank Richards, The
Magnet, 19 March 1921. Available
to download free-of-charge here.
Comments
Post a Comment