Page:Cuthbert Bede--Little Mr Bouncer and Tales of College Life.djvu/68

48 Mr. Bouncer could not resist the opportunity of repeating the chorus from Sam Weller's song. Chorus, sarcastically. But Dick put a couple of balls in his nob, and perwailed on him to stop.' Fire away, Billy."

"One of the townsmen," continued Mr. Blades, "was a very cheery bird, with a first-rate baritone voice; and he sang no end of good songs, and was highly convivial. At two o'clock in the morning the two townsmen thought that it was time to go. Then came the difficulty; it was too late for the College gates; how were they to be got out? Warner's window opened on to the street, from the first floor; so we got a ladder and placed it carefully, and the two townsmen made the descent. It was a brilliant moonlight night, and no sooner were they safely landed on the pavement than a policeman laid hold upon them. The one slipped a half-crown into the Peeler's hand, and the Peeler pocketed it; the other one imitated the pantaloon in a pantomime, and cried, 'I saw you do it! if you split upon us, I shall split upon you for taking the money.' And while the Peeler was hesitating what to do, they made a clear bolt, and we hauled up the ladder. Then we chaffed the Peeler, but made it all right with him, and lowered to him, with a string, a goblet of gin-flip, and threw him some weeds. The two townsmen have since been in a mortal fright at